Members of the University of Otago taiko drumming group
O-Taiko (from left) Sabrina Goh, Mabel Wong, Prof Henry
Johnson, Yoshimi Kurosawa and Michael Templeton inspire
Macandrew Bay School pupils, including (front row, from
left) William Mooney, Josh Dickinson and Lachie Carman (all
aged 5 and in year 1), to follow their drumming lead. The
youngsters are using rolled-up magazines as drumsticks.
Photo by Jane Dawber.
A university of Otago Japanese music group drummed up
Asian cultural awareness at a special event for Macandrew Bay
School pupils this week.
The Japanese taiko drumming group O-Taiko, led by Otago music
department head Prof Henry Johnson, performed for about 150
school pupils at the Macandrew Bay Community Hall, Dunedin,
and also encouraged them to try the compellingly distinctive
rhythms themselves.
Many pupils responded with shrieks of delight and a colossal
pounding on the floor with improvised drumsticks.
The event was organised by Asia New Zealand Foundation young
leaders Anita Perkins and Sian Halcrow, both of Otago
University, to help promote one facet of Asian culture to
city primary schoolchildren. The foundation promotes
integration of aspects of Asian culture into the school
curriculum.
Macandrew Bay School principal Bernadette Newlands said the
class had been "wonderful for our kids".
Ms Newlands said the chance to learn about another culture
had been positive and written teaching materials developed by
the two young leaders had also proved helpful.
john.gibb@odt.co.nz
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