ABOUT ME

Monica Vedia

Taiko, for me, is visual music in motion—a multidisciplinary art that connects body and mind with the instrument through vibration, breath, voice, and movement.
I studied dramatic arts, and my passion for Taiko began in 2003. My admiration and curiosity for Japanese percussion have led me to make numerous trips to Japan, where I have continued my training and deepened my understanding of this artistic discipline.
I was part of the first Taiko group in Spain, performing across the country and collaborating with other Taiko schools and artists internationally. In 2016, I began teaching regular Taiko classes to adults and children, and a year later, I founded my own school, TaikoMon, with the goal of ‘opening Taiko’s door” in Spain.
With this objective, I developed a couple of inclusive and educational Taiko projects: one for people with hearing impairments in collaboration with MediaLab Prado Madrid, and another for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in collaboration with various educational centers in Madrid.
On the stage, I directed and produced the fusion show of Taiko and flamenco, ‘ICHIBAN, the First Heartbeat,’ and created, adapted, and directed the Japanese percussion and contemporary dance piece ‘MUJER.’ In 2021, I was part of the stage management team for the Euro Taiko Expo in Hamburg, participated in all four editions of the European Taiko Conference from 2016 to 2019, and took part in the First Italian Taiko Conference in 2023.
Recently, I have had the opportunity to participate in the Asano Taiko U.S. Student Recital and in the second edition of the Scottish Taiko Festival as a workshop leader.
Over 20 years of professional experience in the world of Taiko.
I began my Taiko studies in Japan in 2003 with Ago Kaijin Daiko Group. During the next two years, I had the unique experience of being part of a Taiko group in Japan, thanks to my teacher, Tabata Sensei.
Performing Arts professional, specialized in Acting, dance, physical theater, and improvisation.
I studied Dramatic Arts and have worked in cinema, theater, and television. As a performing arts professional, Taiko is, for me, the perfect combination of all the artistic disciplines I have studied: dance, theater, and music.
Taiko instructor and founder of the Japanese percussion school TaikoMon in Madrid, Spain.
I am passionate about teaching Taiko, meeting new people, and seeing how much they enjoy playing. I taught my first Taiko classes in 2016, and since then, I have continued to develop a methodology tailored to each group and individual.
Artistic Director of TaikoMon company.
For the creation of TaikoMon’s first show, I decided to fuse the art of Japanese percussion with other artistic disciplines such as Japanese calligraphy and dance. This is how the first Taiko and flamenco fusion show in Spain, ‘Ichiban, the First Heartbeat,’ was born. I greatly enjoy working in production, artistic direction, as well as costume and set design.
Sobre mi
Creative leader of educational and inclusive projects through the use of Taiko.
I intuitively brought Japanese percussion to groups with special needs, including people with autism spectrum disorder and people with hearing impairments, creating two educational projects that I was fortunate to develop in collaboration with various public and private entities. Both projects taught me even more about the great potential and benefits of playing and learning Taiko.
Collaborator in international Taiko events.
Traveling to other countries to learn and teach Taiko is essential for growth in this Japanese discipline. I have participated in events across Europe, Japan, and the United States. I am always grateful for the opportunity to travel, learn from other masters, teach other Taiko groups, and assist in the direction and planning of Taiko events.
Currently in continuous training and creation.
My latest trip to Asano Taiko U.S. gave me the opportunity to continue my training as a professional Taiko player and to meet other groups and masters for future collaborations. I am currently preparing the project ‘TaikOn Stage: Stage Presence through Acting Techniques,’ a workshop aimed at Taiko players and groups who want to improve their stage presence and performance.”