The Heartbeat of Taiko Shine

Taiko Shine was born from the Chōchō Daiko dream of healing, community, and the vibrant power of taiko drumming.

After years of personal growth through taiko, I knew I wanted to create a space where others could experience the same transformation—where anyone could feel big, loud, connected, joyful, and special.

In just two years, Taiko Shine has grown from a small handful of students to a blossoming community of 12–14 students, and the joy we share keeps spreading. Here is a video of part of a class: you will see movement, laughter, people feeling free and light-hearted.

The Growth

Right now, classes are taught in a garage or rented spaces. Every week, we haul drums and stands across town—rain, snow, or shine. Despite the challenges, the laughter, smiles, and deep connections we share have made it all worth it.

But Taiko Shine is outgrowing the garage and this system, and we need a permanent space to keep growing and reaching more people who seak community through fun and connection.

The Dream

Imagine a studio filled with the sounds of beating drums, laughter, and connection—where new students feel welcome, where vulnerable communities find strength, and where the healing power of taiko can reach even more hearts.

Your support will help make this dream a reality.

We are aiming to raise $12,000 to secure rent for one year in a future studio space.

This space isn’t finalized yet—we are building the foundation now so that when the right door opens, we’re ready.

Every gift brings us closer to a home for Taiko Shine.

How Your Gift Helps

Future studio rent (goal: $12,000 for one year)
A welcoming, safe space for drumming, growth, and community, Dharma meetings, and more.
Storage for drums and equipment (no more winter hauling!)

All funds raised go directly to Taiko Shine’s studio fund and will be held in a separate account.

Every dollar makes a difference, and ongoing donations are welcome as we continue to grow!

Ways to Help

Donate — Every contribution, large or small, brings us closer.
Share — Spread the word to friends, family, and community.
If you know of a space, please contact one of us.
Celebrate — Attend a recital, join a class, or just cheer us on!

Thank You!

From the bottom of my heart: thank you for believing in the healing power of taiko and in the dream of Taiko Shine. Together, we can build something beautiful.

Testimonies

Rebecca, May 3, 2025: "I took my first Taiko class with Taiko Shine through Community Ed. I had seen a performance at Central Park in Woodbury about a year earlier and thought it looked like it would be a lot of fun. The class was a blast! It was liberating to make big movements and big sound. I have no experience with drumming or percussion and it didn't matter. I was able to learn the rhythms and play along. I enjoyed the community atmosphere and camaraderie as we were all beginners. Wendy was very welcoming and positive and worked to make the class fun and accessible to all of us. My schedule changed, making it hard for me to continue, but I would enjoy taking another class again in the future."

Andrea B, May 6, 2025: I like loud and I love rhythm, so when I saw my first taiko performance years ago I was thunderstruck! Now I’m taking lessons from Wendy and am really enjoying it. It’s exhilarating to raise my arms high, hit those drums with confidence and make powerful music together with others. I want to learn and play a lot more, and hope Taiko Shine gets its own practice and storage space so the program can grow.

Pam S, May 20, 2025:

My Taiko Story: As long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed rhythm and drums. From Native American drumming to classic rock and roll drumming. In attempts to improve my work life balance, at the late age of ~55 I took drum set lessons for over a year, until my drum teacher retired. I then tried Taiko with Wendy at the local community center and really enjoyed the drumming and camaraderie--and continued on to the intermediate group class. Taiko helps me get out of my head, be present, and have fun. While I’m still a beginner, I look forward to getting better and someday mastering “A Celebration of Purple,” a fabulous Taiko song based on Prince’s work written by Wendy.

Carol S, May 20, 2025:

I took my first Taiko Drum Class with Wendy in the early spring months of 2025. Suffice to say she is an excellent instructor and made our classes fun and interesting. Now I am hooked on Taiko Drum and plan to continue attending her classes!

Chōchō Daiko's Story:

Chōchō Daiko and the idea of a healing Taiko House came to me like a vision on morning in early 2020. The drums were to be the heartbeat of the place, but in addition to taiko, we would also have recovery meetings, meditation sessions, yoga classes, dance, maybe tutoring or resume building (I’ve always enjoyed tutoring), maybe chairs to sit and have a cup of coffee or tea, maybe some weekend retreats for connection, joy, and healing.

I started by running meetings and building community within the local Dharma community. From there taiko classes started in April, 2023, and I slowly built the Taiko Shine program. This was first known as Recovery Taiko, since my first class was hosted by the Friday night Dharma meeting in St. Paul.

In December 2024, there were six Taiko Shine students for our first recital, and in May 2025 we have eleven students in two separate classes with more signed up to start this month. Our second recital was a hit! In other words, the program is growing and people are catching the taiko fever, feeling how powerful it is. Here are videos of some of the classes.

To prove how powerful taiko is, I also initiated the Powers of Taiko Questionnaire Project. People from around the world answered questions about how taiko has transformed their lives. It is a great testament to the art form.

Finally, the other aspect to this that came to me in 2024 was that I want to reach out to the autistic and neuro-diverse communities also, because I was diagnosed as autistic at the age of fifty-six. This was life-changing. I have started a video project, and want to continue integrating this awareness into Chōchō Daiko’s overall planning and programming.

Help Taiko Shine Grow: A Home for Rhythm, Joy, & Healing

By Chōchō Daiko

Help Taiko Shine Grow: A Home for Rhythm, Joy, & Healing

Taiko Shine, part of Chōchō Daiko, a place for connection thru music and more!