YORK St John University music students joined the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers for a workshop at the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) in the city before Mugenkyo’s sold-out Way Of The Drum concert.

This drumming session followed on from an initiative earlier in the year when musicians from the Indonesian SambaSunda Quintet worked with a group of BA first-year music students from the university at the NCEM.

The Taiko drummers hold workshops for students to help them to develop their awareness of rhythm and pulse, improve their drumming skills and increase their knowledge of percussion styles and genres.

Last Thursday’s workshop began with a short introduction to the traditions and cultural background of Taiko, a form of drumming with the whole body.

A cross between music and martial arts, it involves rhythm, energy, choreographed movement and co-ordinated “kakegoe” shouts and builds teamwork between players, in turn developing their confidence and sense of achievement.

The St John students were taken step by step through the basics of Taiko drumming, learning rhythms using the traditional verbal method, including counting in Japanese.

Chris Bartram, senior lecturer in music at York St John, described the workshop as “fantastic”.

He said: “This is part of a module called Drumming, where we have been looking at different types of drumming styles including African drumming and samba.

“The students attended both the workshop and the concert and it gave them a unique practical understanding of a music genre, as well as the invaluable opportunity to meet and learn from experienced professional musicians.”