Friday was my final day at Yamato Nishi High School. I am sitting on the couch in Candy and Dad's apartment in a state of melancholy. For the better part of 2010 to date, I have planned and pointed to this experience and in the blink of an eye, it is over. Life is not measured solely by what you accomplish, but by the lives you touch and, in turn, who you allow into your life. It is utterly amazing to me how deep a bond can be developed in just four school days. I think, perhaps, it is because the staff and students of YNHS took such an interest in me, my life, my family and the reasons I would want to visit their school. I also believe that they could tell my interest in them was heartfelt and genuine. That is a recipe for fast-friendships.
My day actually started next door at Minami Rinkin Junior High School. In Japan, all students are required to attend school, which is free, until the 9th grade. To gain admission to high school, a student must pass a battery of tests and then apply to the high school they wish to attend. Taka told me that there are different levels of high school, depending on your academic prowess. The top students are accepted into schools for high achievers, and those that are on the bottom end of the food-chain attend schools that are, in Taka's word's "not so good." All students in this district take general music through the 9th grade, then it becomes their choice as to whether or not they will continue. I was able to observe two music teachers at Minami Rinkin J.S. On this day, one was teaching choral skills and the other was teaching a lesson on the the Verdi opera "Aida." Since middle school/junior high is kind of my thing, it was fun to watch them work. Teaching seems to be the same in Japan as it is in America. I understood quite well what was happening at every stage of the lessons. Thanks to hand gestures and facial expressions, it was not hard to figure out what the choral teacher was demanding from her students when she stopped the music to address a problem. The same was true with the other teacher was trying to impart to her students while watching opera on a big screen television. In a humorous moment Taka (who came with me to MRJH,) and I were discussing how the only way to really make a living being a musician is to be at the tip-top of the profession, such as being the lead Tenor in the opera. At the same time, one of the students asked the teacher how to make big money as a musician. I could see her pointing to the heavy-set man singing tenor and Taka told me that she was explaining to her student that if you want to make the big bucks you have to be the man singing lead Tenor. Taka and I chuckled over the irony.
We returned to YNHS for Chihiro's afternoon schedule. Chihiro must have studied English extensively as a student, because her ability to speak it improved every day. She, Taka and I chatted away over lunch about all things educational and otherwise. More than anything, this has been an extremely good exchange of information. Their curiosity and mine has led to very open and frank discussions on a variety of educational topics. One of the big differences in music at Yamato Nishi vs. Western Heights is that Chihiro will only see her music classes for about 1 hour and 40 minutes once a week, whereas we will see our students every day for about 50-55 minutes. Therefore, I saw Chihiro teach a similar lesson several times in my four days with her. My big treat for the day came after school, when she invited me to stay for Chorus Club (5th picture from the top,) which she leads. Nine wonderful students that are preparing for a performance in the next two weeks for a visiting high school group from Maryland. One song was quite beautiful and sung in Japanese, the other is from the movie "Sister Act" and was sung in English, complete with all of the choreography. What a blast! Chihiro was gettin' after it on piano and the students were bustin' a move while singing in four part harmony! Fun, fun, fun! At 4:30 Monami (9th picture from the top,) student leader of the Brass Band Club, came to get me and it was off to sectionals. I had the pleasure of working with the saxophones, horns, trombone and trumpets. I cannot say if all Japanese students are as wonderful as the ones I worked with, but let me tell you that I would gladly load each and every one of these young people on a plane and take them back to Western Heights with me, if given the opportunity. These students were disciplined, eager to learn, willing to make changes, and took great joy in fixing problems. I have nothing but the highest praise for all of their efforts!!! My heart sank at 6:00 p.m. when I knew it was time for them to go home. However, there was still another surprise left. I was then led to a commons area where all of the Brass Band Club students had gathered for picture taking and to say goodbye. As the lump in my throat grew, we took a group picture (10th from the top,) and then one by one, several students whipped out their camera phones and posed with me for individual shots. I was thanked profusely by many of the students and was told by Chihiro that they did not wish me to leave. I will treasure this experience for the rest of my life.
My time in Japan is coming to a close, but this might not be the end of the story. Seems that I have been approved to return. In a final meeting with Principal Matsui, I was given a Yamato Nishi T-Shirt (Crimson red!!!!!, my favorite color) and a beautiful Yamato Nishi pen. Matsui Sensei also expressed his gratitude for my willingness to work with the students after school. He also stated that much in the same way YNHS has a sister-school relationship with Zama American High School and Frederick Douglas High School in Maryland, in that they exchange students and share resources, I would be welcomed as an American representative to their band program should I return. Seriously? Me? Talk about God revealing His purpose for my trip. I cannot say weather or not I will have the opportunity to come back, but just to know the opportunity exists to work with these kids again and that a positive impression was made. Wow! I can go home happy now.
Remember at the beginning of this blog when I said I had no expectations and that anything good that happened to me would be a pleasant surprise? Geez Louise!
Saturday is Zama H.S.'s graduation and Candy is giving a speech, which I very much want to hear and then I have been invited to dinner at a Japanese tavern by Masashi Wada, English teacher. I hope they have karaoke. ;-)
My day actually started next door at Minami Rinkin Junior High School. In Japan, all students are required to attend school, which is free, until the 9th grade. To gain admission to high school, a student must pass a battery of tests and then apply to the high school they wish to attend. Taka told me that there are different levels of high school, depending on your academic prowess. The top students are accepted into schools for high achievers, and those that are on the bottom end of the food-chain attend schools that are, in Taka's word's "not so good." All students in this district take general music through the 9th grade, then it becomes their choice as to whether or not they will continue. I was able to observe two music teachers at Minami Rinkin J.S. On this day, one was teaching choral skills and the other was teaching a lesson on the the Verdi opera "Aida." Since middle school/junior high is kind of my thing, it was fun to watch them work. Teaching seems to be the same in Japan as it is in America. I understood quite well what was happening at every stage of the lessons. Thanks to hand gestures and facial expressions, it was not hard to figure out what the choral teacher was demanding from her students when she stopped the music to address a problem. The same was true with the other teacher was trying to impart to her students while watching opera on a big screen television. In a humorous moment Taka (who came with me to MRJH,) and I were discussing how the only way to really make a living being a musician is to be at the tip-top of the profession, such as being the lead Tenor in the opera. At the same time, one of the students asked the teacher how to make big money as a musician. I could see her pointing to the heavy-set man singing tenor and Taka told me that she was explaining to her student that if you want to make the big bucks you have to be the man singing lead Tenor. Taka and I chuckled over the irony.
We returned to YNHS for Chihiro's afternoon schedule. Chihiro must have studied English extensively as a student, because her ability to speak it improved every day. She, Taka and I chatted away over lunch about all things educational and otherwise. More than anything, this has been an extremely good exchange of information. Their curiosity and mine has led to very open and frank discussions on a variety of educational topics. One of the big differences in music at Yamato Nishi vs. Western Heights is that Chihiro will only see her music classes for about 1 hour and 40 minutes once a week, whereas we will see our students every day for about 50-55 minutes. Therefore, I saw Chihiro teach a similar lesson several times in my four days with her. My big treat for the day came after school, when she invited me to stay for Chorus Club (5th picture from the top,) which she leads. Nine wonderful students that are preparing for a performance in the next two weeks for a visiting high school group from Maryland. One song was quite beautiful and sung in Japanese, the other is from the movie "Sister Act" and was sung in English, complete with all of the choreography. What a blast! Chihiro was gettin' after it on piano and the students were bustin' a move while singing in four part harmony! Fun, fun, fun! At 4:30 Monami (9th picture from the top,) student leader of the Brass Band Club, came to get me and it was off to sectionals. I had the pleasure of working with the saxophones, horns, trombone and trumpets. I cannot say if all Japanese students are as wonderful as the ones I worked with, but let me tell you that I would gladly load each and every one of these young people on a plane and take them back to Western Heights with me, if given the opportunity. These students were disciplined, eager to learn, willing to make changes, and took great joy in fixing problems. I have nothing but the highest praise for all of their efforts!!! My heart sank at 6:00 p.m. when I knew it was time for them to go home. However, there was still another surprise left. I was then led to a commons area where all of the Brass Band Club students had gathered for picture taking and to say goodbye. As the lump in my throat grew, we took a group picture (10th from the top,) and then one by one, several students whipped out their camera phones and posed with me for individual shots. I was thanked profusely by many of the students and was told by Chihiro that they did not wish me to leave. I will treasure this experience for the rest of my life.
My time in Japan is coming to a close, but this might not be the end of the story. Seems that I have been approved to return. In a final meeting with Principal Matsui, I was given a Yamato Nishi T-Shirt (Crimson red!!!!!, my favorite color) and a beautiful Yamato Nishi pen. Matsui Sensei also expressed his gratitude for my willingness to work with the students after school. He also stated that much in the same way YNHS has a sister-school relationship with Zama American High School and Frederick Douglas High School in Maryland, in that they exchange students and share resources, I would be welcomed as an American representative to their band program should I return. Seriously? Me? Talk about God revealing His purpose for my trip. I cannot say weather or not I will have the opportunity to come back, but just to know the opportunity exists to work with these kids again and that a positive impression was made. Wow! I can go home happy now.
Remember at the beginning of this blog when I said I had no expectations and that anything good that happened to me would be a pleasant surprise? Geez Louise!
Saturday is Zama H.S.'s graduation and Candy is giving a speech, which I very much want to hear and then I have been invited to dinner at a Japanese tavern by Masashi Wada, English teacher. I hope they have karaoke. ;-)
Your blogs were very good, and I really enjoyed them. Think you could do a summing up, including how your trip home was?
ReplyDeleteJuna