About Rhythmic Flow Taiko
"To foster a learning space where instructors and participants explore the art of taiko and work together to create inclusive taiko experiences."
RFT is a cohort of taiko instructors who work together to teach and develop a Parkinson’s-friendly taiko curriculum that can be enjoyed and used by participants and other instructors.
In May 2020, Sydney Shiroyama (occupational therapist), Vivian Lee (physical therapist) and Yeeman “ManMan” Mui (taiko artist and educator) developed the class to provide opportunities for people with PD to learn about and benefit from taiko. After leading several successful pilot classes, three more taiko artists - Kiana Shibata, Kraig Kenta Saito, and Galen Rogers - were invited to join the team.
The instructional team utilizes strategies and tools from physical therapy, occupational therapy, health psychology, and music education to develop lesson plans that accommodates individuals with various physical and cognitive conditions while maintaining the integrity of the art of taiko. Our classes integrate rhythmic exercises, fine/gross motor movements, breathing exercises, vocalizations, and cognitive challenges, to provide a well-rounded taiko program. Lesson plans are modified each week based on feedback from our participants to improve the efficacy of our instruction and to keep everyone engaged.
New participants are invited to join at any time!!
About This Website
Rhythmicflowtaiko.com provides resources for students and teachers who are currently or intending to integrate taiko into their practice. The website includes a database of open-source taiko activities and videos generated by the RFT instructor team.
Our hope is that this website will be a platform where RFT students, teachers, and supporters can share discoveries and knowledge regarding inclusive taiko, and also a place to foster dialogue and mutual support. We hope that this website is helpful for those interested in learning and networking!
