Sonoma County Taiko Classes & Workshops

Sonoma County Taiko Classes & Workshops offers taiko classes and workshops that include Taiko Basics workshops, a Taiko & Japanese Culture Camp, and a Santa Rosa Rec and Park workshop series. The program also offers performances, teambuilding workshops, cultural presentations, and demonstrations for community events, school assemblies, and private parties.

• Ages: 5–18 years old

Sonoma County Taiko’s mission is “To build a community of acceptance, harmony, and respect through our love of taiko.” The group offers classes and workshops for children and adults interested in trying taiko or delving deeper into Japanese culture and performing.

Sonoma County Taiko began after a 1994 performance by Kodo at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, which led to the creation of the group the following spring. The group’s history includes building its first taiko from wine barrels with startup funds and producing its first Taiko Camp and festival in 1997. In 2005 Sonoma County Taiko celebrated its tenth anniversary with a full concert featuring all members as the sole performers, and in 2010 it produced “Tomodachi,” its fifteenth anniversary concert featuring groups including Taiko Ren, Ensohza Minyoushu, and Tenten taiko.

Sonoma County Taiko provides performances, teambuilding workshops, and cultural presentations for community events, school assemblies, and private parties. Donations help support cultural outreach to local schools and community events with workshops, demonstrations, and performances. The group received startup support from the Japanese American Citizen’s League, Sonoma County Chapter, and Enmanji Buddhist Temple, and practice space was provided in the community hall at Enmanji. Members participated in Rancho Cotate High School’s 30th annual “Unity Week.” Sonoma County Taiko was awarded a 2025 Arts Impact Grant for Organizations by Creative Sonoma.

In 1997 the group produced its first Taiko Camp and festival with community support and guidance and support from Tanaka Sensei, Tiffany Tamaribuchi, and the effort of members. In 2005 Sonoma County Taiko celebrated its tenth anniversary, and in 2010 it produced “Tomodachi,” its fifteenth anniversary concert.

The 2022–2024 Board Members are Alexa Riner, Arnold Shimizu, Ann Frowick, and Deanne DiPietro, and board roles include the President, the Treasurer, and the Secretary. Instructor and board member backgrounds include extensive taiko training and teaching experience: Arn Shimizu began his training in taiko with a 1995 workshop by Tiffany Tamaribuchi and Sacramento Taiko Dan, started attending classes at San Francisco Taiko Dojo with Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka in 1996, and in 2008 participated in the KASA-mix group tour to Japan and Sado Island to experience the apprentice lifestyle at KODO. Miwa Smith has been playing taiko since 1997, is currently learning from Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka as a member of San Francisco Taiko Dojo, has performed in San Francisco/the Bay Area, Lowell (Massachusetts), Butte (Montana), and Qatar in the Middle East, and has a background in music and world folk dancing, including Japanese folk dancing. Meg Mizutani has been playing taiko since 2006, has taught little kids class, youth class, beginning adult classes, Taiko Basics workshops, and the Santa Rosa Rec and Park workshop series at Sonoma County Taiko, has organized and taught Sonoma County Taiko’s “Taiko & Japanese Culture Camp” program, and currently handles booking duties for Sonoma County Taiko. Alexa Riner began playing taiko in 2003 in New Mexico, has been to Japan twice to learn from professional taiko artist Art Lee, has attended several workshops with other masters and professionals around the United States, has been playing with Sonoma County Taiko since 2010, taught taiko in New Mexico from 2005 to 2010, began teaching with Sonoma County Taiko in 2013, and has a background in team building and project-based learning.

Testimonials about Sonoma County Taiko include: “Learning taiko has been so much fun! And joining Sonoma County Taiko brought me the community that I'd been looking for.” (S.N.), “…the audience was deeply moved by the powerful message of taiko…” (Petaluma Library), “You guys ROCK! Everyone loved it!” (Solar Company), and “Your assemblies set the tone for the whole day - they were fabulous!” (Brooks Elementary).

Last updated June 26, 2026.