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太鼓、最高！

TAIKO IS THE GREATEST!

Great Lakes Taiko Center (GLTC) 五大湖太鼓センター is a nonprofit-sponsored arts & culture collective in Southeast Michigan USA, celebrating the empowering art of Japanese Taiko Drumming through education and performances since 2009. Taiko is rooted in Japanese music traditions and continues to grow today as a global cultural arts movement that amplifies imagination, uplifts spirits, and builds community. We invite you to share in the joy of experiencing Taiko together and to explore the World of Taiko with us!

 
 

Taiko Arts Collective

LET’S DRUM, DANCE & DREAM TOGETHER!

When you donate to the Great Lakes Taiko Center or join GLTC as a Member, you help our Taiko Arts Collective develop programs that provide learning opportunities in our local communities, support performing artists in their practice and play, and create cultural connections in our experiences together.

GLTC is a member-led arts & culture organization moving towards a solidarity economy, on the Open Collective financial and legal platform, and newly registered in 2024 as the Great Lakes Taiko Center L3C in partnership with our nonprofit fiscal sponsor Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW). GLTC is an affiliate of the NEW Center – sharing space in Ann Arbor (MI), co-learning sustainable practices in the nonprofit ecosystem, centering justice and building community – transforming the future, together.

Great Lakes Taiko Center logo above graphic of taiko playing cat character with vertical sign and speech bubble in Japanese
 

Taiko Classes

Great Lakes Taiko Center (GLTC) currently offers Taiko drumming classes for all levels and abilities (ages 13+ or youth with adult) with in-person indoor classes and workshops in Ann Arbor and Novi-Wixom, MI, along with online sessions on Zoom. No musical experience is necessary to start enjoying this unique and fun art form from your first class.

You can also get an Intro to Taiko Drumming or get TaikoFit with Cindi in these workshop and class offerings with our local community Rec & Ed partners:

adult taiko player with bachi sticks and wearing headband and happi coat
 
youth taiko player with bachi stick and wearing headband and happi coat
 
sweating taikofit player with bachi sticks and wearing headband and happi coat
 
 

taiko PerformanceS

The Great Lakes Taiko Center (GLTC) Taiko Arts Collective in SE Michigan exemplifies the artistry and spirit of Japanese Taiko drumming in the USA Midwest today as current members represent various performing and community groups which have formed throughout our Taiko Center history, including Raion Taiko, Godaiko Drummers, and Sazanami Taiko Arts Ensemble.

Our Taiko Groups perform year-round in concerts, workshops, festivals and celebrations in our local communities and beyond, bringing a powerful and joyous energy to every audience!

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taiko in COmmunity

Through the art and gift of Taiko, Great Lakes Taiko Center members and supporters embody practices of collective care and creative connection in our communities as we drum, dance and dream together with abundant love and joy!

 

Our annual MI Bon Summer Festival is a community celebration featuring Midwest Taiko drumming and bon dancing and creating Japanese cultural connections in SE Michigan.

GLTC Mushi Okuri 虫送り Send Away Bugs! In 2020 this festive song, from the Kaga region of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan, became the heart of our own community project to stay connected and uplift our spirits during pandemic times as we played Mushi Okuri together to Send Away Bugs!

Send away sickness > Heal & Grow!
Send away misfortune > Welcome abundance!
Send away negativity > Share positive energy!

#MushiOkuriProject #CoronaOkuri

 
 
 
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Praise for our classes

“It is a wonderful way to release all my stress from work!”

– William


“心を一つに. 音を一つに”

– Yukiko

“[Joining Great Lakes Taiko Center ] has helped to grow friendships through bonding over a common love for music. As an additional bonus I’m learning more about Japanese culture.”

– Amina


“Learning Taiko drumming has been way to build my confidence and self-esteem”

– Kyoko

“とても楽しいクラスで、初心者でも温かく仲間に迎えてくれますよ”

– Mitsuyo

“The teachers are wonderful and the drumming is energizing.”

– Amina