Ever since I started taiko in 2004, I wanted to learn how to build my own drums. I felt that this process would better connect me to the profoundly resonant instruments that I loved to play. I started off by by learning how to make taiko out of Rubbermaid garbage bins in 2007 and started the Topham Tora Taiko Club.
Within the next few years, I found some taiko builders who were willing to teach me their skills. With sponsors and donors who helped me finance the project as well some dedicated volunteers who assisted, we began the building process. Most of all, I was able to find a long-term building partner who had the necessary vision, tools, knowledge and time to make this journey possible.
The posts that follow are a brief documentation of our journey that started in the summer of 2010. Since then, Andrew Chin-Shue (a very dedicated parent volunteer) and I have worked together to improve the quality of the drums that are used by the Topham Tora Taiko Club. To date, we have completed 9 blue PVC pipe drums as well as our first authentic oak wine barrel drum (odaiko).
Special thanks to the following individuals and groups:
Topham PAC for the initial funding to make Rubbermaid drums and purchase other percussion instruments
Langley Rotary Club (Sunrise) for donating a generous grant to purchase a shime (lead drum) & improve our drums
Coast Capital Savings (Walnut Grove) for donating funds to improve our equipment
Amy Newman for teaching me how to make the Rubbermaid taiko
Doug Masuhara for teaching me the foundation skills to build wine barrel taiko
Chibi Taiko for lending us their stretching stand
Eien Hunter-Ishikawa for sharing expertise and time to help us improve our building skills
Toshi Kato (California) for teaching me invaluable drum building techniques to refine our skills
Chet Constructions (Abbotsford) for donating PVC pipes
Ron Epp for donating and hand-crafting beautiful oak side stands as well as rolling carts for our equipment
Glenn Terpsma for painting the PVC drums and creating building tools
Bob Dutkiewicz for donating carpenter's glue, wood stain and finish
Andrew Chin-Shue for offering his long-term commitment and vision to this project
John Endo Greenaway for creating our Tora Taiko logo and concert posters
Langley Rotary Club (Sunrise) for donating a generous grant to purchase a lead drum (shime) & improve our drums
Coast Capital Savings (Walnut Grove) for donating funds to improve our equipment
Amy Newman for teaching me how to make the Rubbermaid taiko
Doug Masuhara for teaching me the foundation skills to build wine barrel taiko
Chibi Taiko for lending us their stretching stand
Eien Hunter-Ishikawa for sharing expertise and time to help us improve our building skills
Toshi Kato (California) for teaching me invaluable drum building techniques to refine our skills
Chet Constructions (Abbotsford) for donating PVC pipes
Ron Epp for donating and hand-crafting beautiful oak side stands as well as rolling carts for our equipment
Glenn Terpsma for painting the PVC drums and creating building tools
Bob Dutkiewicz for donating carpenter's glue, wood stain and finish
Andrew Chin-Shue for offering his long-term commitment and vision to this project
John Endo Greenaway for creating our Tora Taiko logo and concert posters
Langley Rotary Club (Sunrise) for donating a generous grant to purchase a lead drum (shime) & improve our drums
Coast Capital Savings (Walnut Grove) for donating funds to improve our equipment
Amy Newman for teaching me how to make the Rubbermaid taiko
Doug Masuhara for teaching me the foundation skills to build wine barrel taiko
Chibi Taiko for lending us their stretching stand
Eien Hunter-Ishikawa for sharing expertise and time to help us improve our building skills
Toshi Kato (California) for teaching me invaluable drum building techniques to refine our skills
Chet Constructions (Abbotsford) for donating PVC pipes
Ron Epp for donating and hand-crafting beautiful oak side stands as well as rolling carts for our equipment
Glenn Terpsma for painting the PVC drums and creating building tools
Bob Dutkiewicz for donating carpenter's glue, wood stain and finish
Andrew Chin-Shue for offering his long-term commitment and vision to this project
John Endo Greenaway for creating our Tora Taiko logo and concert posters
Langley Rotary Club (Sunrise) for donating a generous grant to purchase a lead drum (shime) & improve our drums
Coast Capital Savings (Walnut Grove) for donating funds to improve our equipment
Amy Newman for teaching me how to make the Rubbermaid taiko
Doug Masuhara for teaching me the foundation skills to build wine barrel taiko
Chibi Taiko for lending us their stretching stand
Eien Hunter-Ishikawa for sharing expertise and time to help us improve our building skills
Toshi Kato (California) for teaching me invaluable drum building techniques to refine our skills
Chet Constructions (Abbotsford) for donating PVC pipes
Ron Epp for donating and hand-crafting beautiful oak side stands as well as rolling carts for our equipment
Glenn Terpsma for painting the PVC drums and creating building tools
Bob Dutkiewicz for donating carpenter's glue, wood stain and finish
Andrew Chin-Shue for offering his long-term commitment and vision to this project
John Endo Greenaway for creating our Tora Taiko logo and concert posters
Within the next few years, I found some taiko builders who were willing to teach me their skills. With sponsors and donors who helped me finance the project as well some dedicated volunteers who assisted, we began the building process. Most of all, I was able to find a long-term building partner who had the necessary vision, tools, knowledge and time to make this journey possible.
The posts that follow are a brief documentation of our journey that started in the summer of 2010. Since then, Andrew Chin-Shue (a very dedicated parent volunteer) and I have worked together to improve the quality of the drums that are used by the Topham Tora Taiko Club. To date, we have completed 9 blue PVC pipe drums as well as our first authentic oak wine barrel drum (odaiko).
Special thanks to the following individuals and groups:
Topham PAC for the initial funding to make Rubbermaid drums and purchase other percussion instruments
Langley Rotary Club (Sunrise) for donating a generous grant to purchase a shime (lead drum) & improve our drums
Coast Capital Savings (Walnut Grove) for donating funds to improve our equipment
Amy Newman for teaching me how to make the Rubbermaid taiko
Doug Masuhara for teaching me the foundation skills to build wine barrel taiko
Chibi Taiko for lending us their stretching stand
Eien Hunter-Ishikawa for sharing expertise and time to help us improve our building skills
Toshi Kato (California) for teaching me invaluable drum building techniques to refine our skills
Chet Constructions (Abbotsford) for donating PVC pipes
Ron Epp for donating and hand-crafting beautiful oak side stands as well as rolling carts for our equipment
Glenn Terpsma for painting the PVC drums and creating building tools
Bob Dutkiewicz for donating carpenter's glue, wood stain and finish
Andrew Chin-Shue for offering his long-term commitment and vision to this project
John Endo Greenaway for creating our Tora Taiko logo and concert posters
Langley Rotary Club (Sunrise) for donating a generous grant to purchase a lead drum (shime) & improve our drums
Coast Capital Savings (Walnut Grove) for donating funds to improve our equipment
Amy Newman for teaching me how to make the Rubbermaid taiko
Doug Masuhara for teaching me the foundation skills to build wine barrel taiko
Chibi Taiko for lending us their stretching stand
Eien Hunter-Ishikawa for sharing expertise and time to help us improve our building skills
Toshi Kato (California) for teaching me invaluable drum building techniques to refine our skills
Chet Constructions (Abbotsford) for donating PVC pipes
Ron Epp for donating and hand-crafting beautiful oak side stands as well as rolling carts for our equipment
Glenn Terpsma for painting the PVC drums and creating building tools
Bob Dutkiewicz for donating carpenter's glue, wood stain and finish
Andrew Chin-Shue for offering his long-term commitment and vision to this project
John Endo Greenaway for creating our Tora Taiko logo and concert posters
Langley Rotary Club (Sunrise) for donating a generous grant to purchase a lead drum (shime) & improve our drums
Coast Capital Savings (Walnut Grove) for donating funds to improve our equipment
Amy Newman for teaching me how to make the Rubbermaid taiko
Doug Masuhara for teaching me the foundation skills to build wine barrel taiko
Chibi Taiko for lending us their stretching stand
Eien Hunter-Ishikawa for sharing expertise and time to help us improve our building skills
Toshi Kato (California) for teaching me invaluable drum building techniques to refine our skills
Chet Constructions (Abbotsford) for donating PVC pipes
Ron Epp for donating and hand-crafting beautiful oak side stands as well as rolling carts for our equipment
Glenn Terpsma for painting the PVC drums and creating building tools
Bob Dutkiewicz for donating carpenter's glue, wood stain and finish
Andrew Chin-Shue for offering his long-term commitment and vision to this project
John Endo Greenaway for creating our Tora Taiko logo and concert posters
Langley Rotary Club (Sunrise) for donating a generous grant to purchase a lead drum (shime) & improve our drums
Coast Capital Savings (Walnut Grove) for donating funds to improve our equipment
Amy Newman for teaching me how to make the Rubbermaid taiko
Doug Masuhara for teaching me the foundation skills to build wine barrel taiko
Chibi Taiko for lending us their stretching stand
Eien Hunter-Ishikawa for sharing expertise and time to help us improve our building skills
Toshi Kato (California) for teaching me invaluable drum building techniques to refine our skills
Chet Constructions (Abbotsford) for donating PVC pipes
Ron Epp for donating and hand-crafting beautiful oak side stands as well as rolling carts for our equipment
Glenn Terpsma for painting the PVC drums and creating building tools
Bob Dutkiewicz for donating carpenter's glue, wood stain and finish
Andrew Chin-Shue for offering his long-term commitment and vision to this project
John Endo Greenaway for creating our Tora Taiko logo and concert posters