James Word is the first TaKeTiNa teacher in the U.S. to be trained at a senior level.

James’ qualifications as a TaKeTiNa rhythm facilitator are a direct result of many years of intensive study and professional application. He has over 400 hours of professional TaKeTiNa leading experience, and over 1,000 hours of intensive rhythm and leadership training from TaKeTiNa founders, Reinhard and Cornelia Flatischler.

James also studied for several years with 28th-generation master drummer, S. Kwaku Daddy.

Before becoming a TaKeTiNa teacher, James resided for two years at Kanzeon Zen Center, where he studied and trained with Zen Master Genpo Roshi, founder of the Big Mind, Big Heart process, and Tenkei Roshi (then Tenkei Sensei), currently the abbot of Zen River monastery in Northern Holland.

James has a degree in Psychology from the University of California Berkeley, where he focused on Buddhist psychology, dreamwork, and musical perception.

James has been a regular guest lecturer for the UC Berkeley course, “Perspectives on Internal Happiness,” and founded and currently teaches the “Rhythm and Sound” course at The Sound and Consciousness Institute in San Francisco, California.

James has facilitated TaKeTiNa workshops all over the world, in France, Germany, Austria, Australia, and the United States — and regularly offers classes, workshops, and private trainings in the San Francisco Bay Area.