Where are we?

With Taiko Conference just around the corner, I've been thinking about what shape taiko has taken in North America and where it might go.

There's one camp that wants NA taiko to push well beyond the "safe" barriers it has created for itself, to break out of the traditions that are taking shape, and to be a more recognized and modern art form.

There's another camp that is composed of people who know very little outside of their own groups. Some groups are unaware that there are other taiko groups around outside of Japan, believe it or not. Although that's a very small number, can you imagine? Other groups are aware, but prefer to be isolated, often because their "way" is the only "way" they feel matters.

Yet another camp just plays to play. Maybe they like connecting to their Japanese roots, or always grew up hearing the sound of the taiko, or *gasp* it's just fun!

No one will ever have a blanket answer for what taiko should be in NA. Even if you said, "but we all play because we love taiko," that's not always true. I've known a few people that have played out of a sense of duty, instead.

So where does that leave us? I have a feeling NA taiko will have a few groups/people that push the art form to new levels and new audiences, but for the most part people are just happy to be a part of whatever taiko means to them. Ultimately, as long as we respect each other's paths, it's all good.