Community Highlights: Meet Eileen Morgan of Fushicho Daiko

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eileen Morgan.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Eileen’s first instrument was the accordion which she started at the age of six. She began New York State Accordion competitions the following year and won multiple awards every year she participated. At the age of 12 Eileen began competing in United States National Competitions and again won multiple awards each of the 5 years she participated, placing 3rd of all 16 year olds. Three years of Canadian/US accordion competition saw her voted Outstanding Bassetti Artist in Open Competition. In the same time period she began her studies in flute, saxophone and piano. Eileen realized music was what she needed to do; to feel a sense of community and belonging, to share her love of music with others, to distinguish herself and to feed her sense of identity.
Eileen graduated with honors from Nazareth College of Rochester, New York bachelor’s degree program in Music Education, K-12 and was voted outstanding musician by the music faculty and staff in 1986. Eileen majored in flute with a minor in piano and saxophone. The education program allowed her the opportunity to also learn and teach clarinet, oboe, trumpet, trombone, French horn and tuba. Eileen taught music in public and private schools, working with inner city and small town students as well as children with multiple handicaps. Eileen was a member of the folk band The Wilderness Family which produced a CD to much US and UK acclaim. She performed with the group on accordion, flute and fife at numerous festivals and shows throughout upstate New York for three years. At the age of 24, Eileen took over the teaching responsibilities of the accordion studio that she had been a member of for 18 years and lead the students to successful competitions for two years until her move to Phoenix. During her time as director of the accordion studio, Eileen completed her Master’s Degree in Deaf Education, K-12 in an innovative joint program through the University of Rochester and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Eileen was immediately offered the position of music teacher at Phoenix Day School for the Deaf where she created and implemented a music curriculum for students ages 3-21. She produced numerous programs and shows including an instrumental band. In the fall of 1993 Eileen incorporated Taiko drumming in an after school program, lead by Esther Vandecar, founder and director of Fushicho Daiko. Eileen assisted Esther in teaching this dynamic art form to students ages 8-15 through her interpreting skills in sign language and expertise in music education. Esther and Eileen worked together at the school until the Spring of 1994, when Eileen went on maternity leave.
Eileen joined Fushicho Daiko/Phoenix Drummers in October, 1994 five months after the birth of her first child. Eileen missed the joy and catharsis of drumming and the sense of community and belonging. Her studies with Esther Vandecar progressed until she became one of it’s core performers. The professional group Fushicho Daiko was accepted as Roster Artists on the Arizona Commission on the Arts in 1997, just as the dojo began to flourish with student groups. Eileen continues to perform with Fushicho Daiko in school residencies, assemblies, festivals and tours throughout Arizona and the Southwest as well as in Japan. As an individual artist, Eileen auditioned and was accepted on the Arizona Commission on the Arts Roster as an individual artist in 2001. Eileen performs and teaches Taiko as well as the Japanese fue bamboo wind instrument. Beginning in 2001, Eileen incorporated her Taiko program in numerous after school, summer school, juvenile correctional facilities, foster care, special needs and library programs throughout the Phoenix area and Arizona. In 2003, Eileen began teaching students in the Fushicho Daiko dojo/studio. At the 2005 Phoenix Matsuri, A Festival of Japan, Esther and Eileen collaborated to create the All Arizona Taiko Team, incorporating all the students of the dojo. The Team has grown at one time to a size of 50 performers, incorporating musicians from Tucson, New Mexico and visiting guest artists from Japan. Eileen became Executive and Artistic Director of Fushicho Daiko and it’s teaching dojo/studio in May 2011 upon Esther Vandecar’s retirement.
Nine trips to Japan have afforded Eileen with the opportunity to study Taiko in Hiroshima, Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Sado Island (Kodo’s 25th Anniversary Earth Celebration), Hachijo-jima/Island and Fukui as well as perform in Matsuyama, Nomura, Takamatsu (Shikoku), Yame (Kyushu), Hachijo-jima and Nagoya, Japan. She has also taught and performed Taiko in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Lijiang, China. She has participated in numerous master classes held by leading Taiko experts from throughout the United States and Japan as well as with internationally known Korean group SamulNori on the Korean Changgo drum.
In her over 55 years as a musician, Eileen has performed in Taiko ensembles in Arizona and Japan with as many as 80 musicians at one time, accordion ensembles with over 50 musicians from around the United States, band ensembles on flute and saxophone, flute choir, saxophone quartets, vocal choir, orchestra and folk bands. Eileen is a member of The Pangean Orchestra, a ground breaking ensemble made up of musician and music repertoire from around the globe, incorporating her expertise on Taiko, fue and accordion. She has accompanied the Grammy winning Phoenix Boy’s Choir with Fushicho Daiko and performed Taiko with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. Eileen continually strives to expand her knowledge and understanding of music, and to share it’s significance and importance in creating understanding and acceptance among the many people and cultures of the world.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a woman of European dissent, playing Taiko drums has required me to be ever vigilant that I am honoring and representing the Japanese culture accurately and without appropriation. At times there is the assumption that, because I am not a Japanese man, I have less to offer in regards to insight, skill, cultural connections and dedication. It requires continuous awareness on my part that I am providing accurate and balanced information and insight into the art form, the culture and the history of Taiko drumming.

We’ve been impressed with Fushicho Daiko, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Fushicho Daiko is a Japanese Drumming ensemble and studio that specializes in teaching the art of ensemble Japanese drumming. This artform is ancient, beginning with religious use of the drums, court music for the emperor, festival music for communities large and small. In the 1950, it became known as kumi-daiko, or group drumming, after a young Japanese musician found ancient shinto religion music and found an elder to transcribe it. He realized the power of group drumming to bring communities together and after the 1964 Nagano Olympics, Taiko/kumi-daiko exploded in Japan. Our studio was founded by an American woman, Esther Vandecar, who studied Taiko in Japan for 7 years, bringing back a repertoire that is very unique to North American Taiko. We pride ourselves on playing traditional Japanese songs that no one else in the United States play. These songs represent ancient rituals, religious ceremony, festival songs from throughout Japan and more contemporary songs that celebrate historical events important to Japan. Our studio provides lessons in Taiko drumming for people of all ages and abilities, from 5 years old to active senior, including special needs individuals and people in emotional or physical rehabilitation facilities. With over 55 years of musicianship, and over 40 years of teaching experience, working with all ranges of populations, Eileen Morgan truly enjoys sharing the ancient art form of Taiko drumming with all.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
As a child, I was incredibly shy and reserved. The youngest of 3 daughters, and the child of Eastern European immigrants (who where refugees during WWII), I had a difficult time feeling like I fit into society, school, the neighborhood children groups. Music (I began the accordion at ages 6) was a way for me to fit in, while simultaneously showing my skills and creativity. Being in a music band was my happy place. By the time I graduated high school, I played 4 instruments. In college I learned many more instruments in anticipation of being a school music teacher. While at college, I joined the college band, orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, flute choir, string quartet, saxophone quartet and vocal choir, while maintaining lessons in flute, saxophone, piano, accordion and graduating cum laude. When I was not playing music, my love of reading and hiking helped me find relaxation. During my college years and the first few years I taught in school, I used my summer vacations to work with my father, an award winning carpenter and building contractor. I learned how to work hard but smart, focus, plan and communicate effectively while learning how to build houses, remodel houses, install electric and plumbing, mix mortar, roof buildings and defy expectations. It was a wonderful, and demanding childhood that I would not trade for the world.

Pricing:

• $75, monthly adult classes
• $50, monthly children’s classes ages 5-11
• $400, one hour solo performance by Eileen Morgan
• $900 – $2000, performance by Fushicho Daiko
• $20, Try Taiko class, one 90 minute intro to Taiko, the first Saturday after the first Friday of each month

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.TaikoAz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taikoarizona
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taikoaz
• Yelp: Fushicho Daiko Dojo

Image Credits
Terrie Shertl, Will Reimers