Our Story so far...
Taiko Journey & Happi Beats
- nurturing community well-being through taiko drumming.
Taiko Journey was founded in 2014 by Hannah-Jasmine Brunskill, with the intention of creating accessible, inclusive taiko opportunities in Devon where she lived.
Taiko Journey empowered people to believe in themselves and unlock their potential through rhythm, movement, and joy through school workshops, work with organisations & many individuals.
Compassion, inclusivity, wellbeing, collaboration & self-expression were the values that sat at the heart of all actions and decisions.
Taiko Journey has adapted and grown with the changing environment, and has seen struggles that have been overcome, owing to the passion, commitment and love of the people who make it what it is. In 2025 Taiko Journey transformed into Happi Beats, who are a performing group in Devon, still under Hannah-Jasmine's wing but with the independence and autonomy she always wanted for them. Happi Beats also goes out into the community, led by Linda Cameron, Julie Vaughan & Tina McGahey, to work with people living with Parkinsons & dementia.
In the beginning...
In 2013, having stopped working for & performing with Kagemusha Taiko, and without any significant funds, it felt like an impossible dream, although persistent. It was the kind generosity of a close but distant friend that saw the arrival of the first drums in early 2014. Living in a third floor flat with no parking, and with a baby on the way, slowly taiko classes & workshops began.
In 2015 the first Taiko Journey group grew, all thanks to Tamami & Adam Benjamin, who gathered friends and family in an old barn in Lamerton, West Devon. There were no windows, usually chicken crap all over the floor, and it was cold in winter, but we met and families came, and we began to perform at local events.
In 2017 all the money earned from workshops and gigs had been reinvested in more drums. There were now 5 local Taiko Journey groups - Lamerton, Plymouth University Society, Kenn Taiko, Ashburton Taiko & Zassō.
In 2018 The Taiko Journey Collective first played at Sandy Park to support the Exeter Chiefs rugby team, and received funding to buy a baby Odaiko from Germany.
In 2020/21 the Covid pandemic saw the end of most of the groups - the Kenn group continued, but with far fewer players.
By 2023 Taiko Journey Collective players began to go out into the community to share taiko with the community into residential care homes & local events. This was the beginning of Happi Beats, although it hadn't ben name yet.
In 2024 Ruth Janssen & Sarah McLintock joined the core team and together with HJ ran classes & the group. The power of 3 stabilised the group and took it to new strengths. All three having young children, the open dialogue around "Family First" revealed a beautiful strength within the group as many people stepped up to help where it was needed. Everyone in the group knows that family comes first - it is never questioned, and often repeated.
In 2025 some members of Taiko Journey Collective wanted to share their love of taiko with people the community who might not be able to access our public classes. Linda Cameron, Julie Vaughan & Tina McGahey worked together to form a volunteer group who worked with people living with Parkinsons & dementia. And so Happi Beats emerged, and is working towards being eligible to apply for funding to take taiko into the community.
Meet the team
Happi Beats Lead
Julie....
Julie Vaughan
TinaMcGahey
Happi Beats Lead
Tina....