If being asked to evaluate members of the Brass Band Club during their sectionals yesterday was not enough to make my mind spin, boy was I in for a shock today. Upon arrival at YMHS, I slipped off my shoes and slipped on the traditional slippers and slipped upstairs to Chihiro's office on the third floor. Another day, another new friend to meet. Today Masashi Wada, an English teacher, was with me for several hours throughout the day to chat with me, allow me to ask questions and translate complicated topics for Chihiro and I. Wada Sensei was very curious about my school and education in America. Since I was dying to know several things about the Japanese educational system, it was a good exchange of information. Wada Sensei has two children, a boy, 11 and a daughter, 8. An ironic moment came at the end of the day when he had to depart promptly at 6:00 p.m. to pick up his son from school. His life sounds very similar to someone I know.......hmmm.....Just exchange the 11 year old boy for one that is 13 and......Anyway, on to the moment mentioned in the subject line. While chatting in Chihiro's office, the student leader of the Band Club asked Wada Sensei and Chihiro if she could have permission to ask me a question. Monami, 1st chair clarinet, asked if I would stay after school and rehearse the band. Thinking that she obviously meant that she wanted me to again travel from room to room and listen to sections, I immediately said yes. The language gap has been a problem only a time or two, but in this case, I really should have asked Wada Sensei for a literal translation, because promptly at 4:25, Monami led me to a large classroom where THE ENTIRE BAND WAS ASSEMBLED. Yes, I had agreed to rehearse the whole band. To be fair, I had a gut feeling that is what Monami wanted in the office, but I thought to myself, "Nah, couldn't be that." Oh, but it was. No score prep. No baton. And, oh by the way.....I am not fluent in Japanese. I had the advantage of a chalkboard, graciously provided by the band students. Also, Wada Sensei came by and helped by translating complicated concepts I was trying to get across. I instantly became Marcelle Marceau with my hands and facial expressions and very quickly re-learned my Japanese numbers from 1-10 and learned even quicker how to count to 100, so as to direct students to the correct measure. I use the chalkboard all the time in my classroom, so that came easily to me. The biggest surprise was how easily I was able to correct inaccuracies in the music. And I absolutely love the piece they are working on. Written by a Japanese composer, it was tuneful and exciting with quick articulations and several beautiful, lyrical melodies. I am going to get the name of it before I leave. Music really is an international language. The students and I were able to communicate on a very high level do to our ability to understand the language of music. Stuff got fixed! I was thrilled. The students at YNHS play extremely well and were a delight to work with. I was very impressed with how independent each student was on their part. Their band of about 20-25 students played with the bold sound of a group twice its size. Each time I stopped the students were receptive to my comments and eager to correct mistakes. In that light, they remined me of my top ensemble at Western Heights Middle School. I very much felt at home with the band students at Yamato Nishi.
The only awkward moment came at the end of rehearsal when I saw it was time to stop. I thanked the students for their wonderful effort and for inviting me to work with them, then I thought I had dismissed them..........They continued to sit and stare at me in utter silence (by the way, these students were pin-drop quiet throughout the entire rehearsal.) After a moment or two, I again said what an honor it was to be with them, how much I enjoyed the experience and "have a great afternoon"..............They still sat staring at me.........Now I am beginning to sweat. I looked up at Wada Sensei for advice, but was so frazzled by this point that I could not hear what he was telling me to do. In my school, it is all I can do to keep the kids in their seats until I am finished with announcements at the end of the period. I could not understand why these wonderful young people would not leave. Turns out that they were apparently waiting for me to leave the room. In Japan, my observations have told me that the students will take their seats the classroom and wait for the teacher (Sensei) to enter. The Sensei will leave the classroom before the students are allowed to gather their things and exit. Now, this is my observation. I will try to get clarification from Wada Sensei or Taka before I am finished as to the tradition and procedure.
Needless to say, it was an afternoon I will never forget. Many of the students thanked me again and again for my help. They will never know what a pleasure it truly was for me to have the opportunity to teach them.
Tomorrow, back at Yamato Nishi and then on to the Kanagawa University Symphonic Band rehearsal and concert.
-k
The only awkward moment came at the end of rehearsal when I saw it was time to stop. I thanked the students for their wonderful effort and for inviting me to work with them, then I thought I had dismissed them..........They continued to sit and stare at me in utter silence (by the way, these students were pin-drop quiet throughout the entire rehearsal.) After a moment or two, I again said what an honor it was to be with them, how much I enjoyed the experience and "have a great afternoon"..............They still sat staring at me.........Now I am beginning to sweat. I looked up at Wada Sensei for advice, but was so frazzled by this point that I could not hear what he was telling me to do. In my school, it is all I can do to keep the kids in their seats until I am finished with announcements at the end of the period. I could not understand why these wonderful young people would not leave. Turns out that they were apparently waiting for me to leave the room. In Japan, my observations have told me that the students will take their seats the classroom and wait for the teacher (Sensei) to enter. The Sensei will leave the classroom before the students are allowed to gather their things and exit. Now, this is my observation. I will try to get clarification from Wada Sensei or Taka before I am finished as to the tradition and procedure.
Needless to say, it was an afternoon I will never forget. Many of the students thanked me again and again for my help. They will never know what a pleasure it truly was for me to have the opportunity to teach them.
Tomorrow, back at Yamato Nishi and then on to the Kanagawa University Symphonic Band rehearsal and concert.
-k
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