The Edmonds Center for the Arts is bringing ON Ensemble to the Edmonds School District elementary schools in an extensive arts outreach residency during the week of April 15-19. This opportunity is made possible through grants from the Hazel Miller Foundation and the Tulalip Tribes.
ON Ensemble (pronounced “Ohn”) takes the ancient instruments of Taiko into new realms. Infusing the powerful rhythms of ensemble Japanese drumming with elements of hip-hop, rock and electronica, ON Ensemble’s sound has been praised as “completely original and brilliantly conceived.” Modern Drummer magazine calls On Ensemble “an exciting Taiko ensemble looking at new ways to apply traditional Japanese drums.”
During the week of April 15-19, ON Ensemble will be performing in four elementary schools in the Edmonds School District. They will offer an in-school assembly of Taiko Fusion drumming and history at Mountlake Terrace Elementary, Martha Lake Elementary, Maplewood Co-operative School and Chase Lake Community School. Students at Chase Lake Elementary will be working with one class for three sessions during the week. Students will build their own Taiko drums, learn how to play, and discover some of the background of the Taiko tradition. Those students will perform with ON Ensemble in the assembly.
On April 19, ON Ensemble will provide a hands-on Japanese drumming workshop for general music teachers. Participants will be introduced to basic form and fundamental Taiko rhythms, culminating in an ensemble-drumming experience. This is a rare opportunity to learn Taiko drumming and meet the musicians behind ON Ensemble. Edmonds Center for the Arts has permission from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to offer teachers clock hours for this workshop (professional development credit). ON Ensemble presentations fulfill areas of the Washington State Learning Standards including The Arts, Communication and Social Studies.
Later that night, ON Ensemble will be performing a full-length concert at Edmonds Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the ECA Box Office at 425-275-9595 or at www.ec4arts.org. Families of the participating schools will have the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets for the show.
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