Started by Jessie Gibbs in Wellington, Narukami Taiko has grown in leaps and bounds in just five years. The team now has over 60 members with 5 classes each week for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Team membership is diverse, open to anyone who likes to hit big drums. Members are encouraged to share their knowledge and experience with newer members, which fosters strong friendships. Narukami also have regular workshops and performances out in the community, working with Tawa Community Education, local schools and The Argo Trust, as well as being a familiar sight and sound at community festivals.
Narukami Taiko 鳴神 太鼓 is a Japanese Drum Team based in the Wellington region and founded in 2014.
Taiko is the creative, powerful, and physically demanding discipline of Japanese ensemble drumming. Taiko incorporates movement and rhythm using your whole body to create powerful performances that command audiences. Taiko is a lot of fun! The classes are open to beginners and all ages.
“Our kids really enjoyed learning about Taiko drumming, Jessie was great with teaching them rhythms and the amazing sounds that can come out when you drum together as a team”. - YMCA Wellington
Classes
CLASSES
We offer different classes throughout the week. Classes are for 2 hours a time, courses run for 10 weeks. The course costs $120 and your first pair of bachi/sticks are included.
Sundays at Aro Valley Community Centre Mondays and Thursdays at Newtown Working Mens Bowling Club
NEW Tuesday class at Petone Central School
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Performances
Narukami Taiko frequently perform around the Wellington Region. If you are interested in having us perform for you, email us at to make your next event start with a bang.
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Workshops
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Open Sessions
Throughout the year, we offer Open Days as tasters for people who have an interest in giving taiko a go. This is a no pressure class for you to learn taiko. Open Days are open to everyone.
Next Open Day
Petone - Saturday October 5th 1:30 - 2:30pm - Petone Central School
Netown - Saturday October 5th 10:30 - 11:30am - Daniell St Hall
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Team Building
Taiko ensembles and songs cannot work with only one person. Each member has to put in the same effort and power, combine their movement, and voices, to create and perform, while encouraging everyone to keep the momentum and reach the outcome that captivates everyone. Taiko Team Building presents group challenges that parallel situations in the everyday work environment. Many workers and members of teams have individual voices and opinions and every member is essential to making the team and business work. If you want to make your Taiko session a part of a broader team building event, we recommend Team Building experts 'Thinking Spaces' who will design and deliver a highly effective programme tailored to your needs.
