Aki Takahashi, photo from Odaiko Sonora’s website

Odaiko Sonora (taiko drumming group) hosts this event on September 6, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

“In preparation for All Souls Procession (ASP) on November 9, Odaiko Sonora invites you to join the first ever Viral Chant Group. We’ve commissioned the chant from Toronto artist Aki Takahashi, who you may remember from February’s amazing shamisen concert at Yume Japanese Gardens.

We want the chant to spread through the crowd in the last few minutes of the ASP finale. For this, we need some volunteers to “seed” the crowd. Aki, who is one of Odaiko Sonora’s guest artists for the finale, has agreed to come in advance to train people in Japanese vocal technique and learn the chant. The Chant Workshop runs 12:30-2:00pm and is FREE (though we’ll pass a hat).”

Aki will be performing a traditional minyo (Japanese folk) style chant.

The Rhythm Industry Performance Factory is located at 1013 S. Tyndall Ave. (just south of the SE corner of E. 20th and Tyndall Ave., west of Campbell Ave.)

sumi-e painting by artist Joy Mills

Join local Tucson artist Joy Mills at the Johrei Fellowship Tucson Center on August 16, 1:30 to 4 p.m. at 3919 E. River Rd. for a beginning sumi-e brush painting class. Teacher Joy Mills provides tools and materials for $30, and discounts the class to $25 for those who bring their own. Registration deadline is August 13.

Contact Karey to register at kkaram@mail.com, 520-403-4408. Deadline to register is August 13.

“Monthly session in artful mindfulness meditation with ink, brush and paper: priceless!” www.tucsonjohrei.org.  Joy has been teaching a monthly sumi-e painting class at the Johrei center, and recently had a exhibition of her lovely sumi-e art at the Ravenscroft Gallery at the St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church:

A thirty-year veteran art teacher, Joy has taught at Pima College, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, The Drawing Studio, The Chinese Cultural Center and Joh Rei Fellowship. Her artwork has been recognized with a number of prestigious national awards.