Aim: Help us fund new flooring and sound proofing to set up our fabulous new Taiko Dojo in York and make it a great place for the Taiko community
We are asking for donations to help the Tengu School of Taiko purchase suitable rubber flooring to help provide insulation ( both sound and heat) in our fantastic and exciting new training space …. Our Tengu Taiko Dojo. We are aiming to raise £4,000 through donations.
Who are WE?
We are the Tengu School of Taiko, (owned and run by Jared Hardwick) and the Tengu Taiko Drummers a performance group made up of former school members. Taiko literally means 'big drum' in Japanese. Taiko performances use different styles and sizes of Japanese drum (wadaiko). These can also be played in many different positions and ways. Playing taiko isn't just about hitting a drum to make a sound, it involves body movement, balance, energy, stamina, co-ordination, self control, self awareness and unites mind, body and spirit akin to many martial arts. Our aim is to share the joy of Taiko as well as the benefits and energy that it creates.
The Tengu School of Taiko, provides Taiko drumming classes and workshops to both adults and children. With over 75 regular students, the school currently runs adult weekly beginner to intermediate classes in York, Leeds and Pickering. The School provides workshops for younger folk (through primary and secondary schools, Scouts, Guides and educational organisations) and for adult groups/organisations.
Moving into our new Dojo will enable us to offer so much more. It’s all very exciting but first there is significant amount of work required to fit it out and make it a suitable, welcoming and warm training space. First on the agenda, is upgrading the current concrete floor with heavy duty rubber flooring. Taiko involves lots of movement and choreography. No one wants to jump around on a hard unforgiving floor and our joints certainly don’t! Next is installing some sound dampening equipment. Whilst the Dojo is based in a rural location, we don’t want to offend our neighbours, and once inside we want to be able to hear ourselves without those mighty Taiko beats bouncing from wall to wall and creating a cacophony of noise. We intend to install a wall of mirrors. No, not the fairground hall of mirrors type but the type your see in dance studios and gyms . These can be used as a teaching tool and provide a different perspective for choreography and teaching. Finally we want to install a massive door curtain across the roller door, to not only help dampen sound but also to help keep our heating bills down and minimise any drafts!
Your support will help us provide high quality teaching, and great facilities for current and new students, helping them develop, try different styles and learn new skills as well as challenge themselves further. It will enable us to extend our offering.
Some of our plans include
· moving the York class to run from the new space.
· creating a new weekly intermediate class.
· offering monthly weekend workshops for existing students and those from other groups.
· create 'Have a Go' sessions for complete beginners.
· introduce specialist Taiko workshops and other Japanese Performing Arts workshops with guest teachers.
Where will the money go?
All donations will go towards the cost of:
· rubber flooring ( approx. 9m x 9m) £1620.00
· mirrors and installation £1500.00
· sound dampening equipment £840.00
· massive acoustic curtain (estimated £2000)
Rewards.
Find out what great rewards you can get for your kind donation.
· £30 – Free pass to any 1 hour beginners workshop / have a go session for you, or as a gift for a friend / relative.
· £50 – Free pass to any 2 hour Taiko workshop run by Jared.
· £60 – Free Limited edition Tengu School of Taiko T shirt.
Help us succeed!
· You don't need to give money to help us succeed! Please share this project with anyone you think would support us – on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, by email, telephone, in a chat over the fence or on your blog.
· In fact, share it with everyone you know as we think it's a great idea, and the more people who know about it, the more likely we are to make this work out brilliantly.
· And we know we said you don't need to give money to help us, but we'd love it if you did! Please sponsor us and help make this happen.
Thank you very much,
Tengu School of Taiko and the Tengu Drummers
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 13th August 2025 at 3:47pm