Mission Statement:
“The mission of Progressive Taiko is to spread cultural awareness, support community issues, and to educate the greater community through progressiveness in thought and in artistic expression.”
-Est. Summer 2007
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Progressive Taiko (a.k.a. PROTA) is a ten-member ensemble of taiko performers with a diverse background in arts, musical composition, and community campaigns and projects. Unique to the taiko community, PROTA members all have backgrounds with intercollegiate taiko teams including UCLA Kyodo Taiko, UCI Jodaiko, and CSUN Jishin Daiko, as well as community taiko teams such as West Covina Kishin Daiko, TAIKOPROJECT, and the Orange County Buddhist Church’s Daion Taiko.
In addition, PROTA members have been active in intercollegiate student organizations such as the UCLA Nikkei Student Union, UCLA Asian Pacific Coalition, and UCI Tomo No Kai. Utilizing their backgrounds in both taiko and collegiate organizations, PROTA members use taiko to address relevant issues affecting the Japanese American, Asian American Pacific Islander, and greater LA community.
The mission of PROTA is to spread cultural awareness, support community issues, and educate the greater community through progressiveness in thought and in artistic expression. PROTA mixes traditional Japanese taiko drumming with contemporary influences such as jazz and hip-hop. PROTA uses this music to support relevant community issues within the Japanese American, Asian American Pacific Islander, and greater Los Angeles community.
PROTA members have participated in a number of musical collaborations and performances including:
- Mitsubishi Eclipse 2005 Commercial
- Carnegie Hall Performance with San Francisco Taiko Dojo
- Musical Collaboration with Korn
- “Survivor” Original Composition
- Inauguration of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
- Rising Sun and Red Belt Movies
- Swallow Touches the Water Musical Composition with Kenny Endo
- Los Angeles Clippers, Dodgers, Kings, and UCLA Basketball Half-Time Shows
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Dear PROTA members,
I really enjoy your skill, performances and all your enthusiasm. I wanted to share a little bachground on the piece you perform entitled “Swing”. Although it is heavily influenced by Oedo Sukeroku Daiko, this piece was originally composed/arranged by me working with UCLA Kyodo Taiko for a taiko production, I directed, at Disneyland called Nishikaze Taiko from 2001-2003. Walter Tsushima (former president – UCLA Kyodo Taiko) & Byron Yamada (currently with Taiko Project) were some of the original members of the production. I’d have to say that all of you do it much more justice with your talent & skill and am glad to see that it still being performed. I most certainly have no hang ups with it as far as who performs the arrangement, but rather wanted to share a tidbit of history on the piece. I look forward to seeing all of you taking the piece even further.
Sincerely,
Comment by Bruce "Mui" Ghent September 10, 2009 @ 2:06 pmBruce “Mui” Ghent
taikomotion@yahoo.com
http://www.maikazedaiko.com