Tuesday was day one at Yamato Nishi Senior High School. Two long walks, a short train ride, and a Google map took me right to the front entrance. Within just a few moments I was greeted by Principal Kazuhiko Matsui, who very politely had me remove my shoes in favor of traditional slippers (pictured above) and taken to his office for a brief chat. I was welcomed with a cup of traditional Japanese green tea served in an elegant cup with saucer. These folks know how to make someone feel welcome and important. I was introduced to a number of the staff, including Michitaka Koganemaru (Taka,) an English teacher and my primary contact at YNHS. I was also introduced to Akio Soma and a very nice woman that asked me to call her “Meg”, also English teachers, who took me on a wonderful tour of the school. Just so you know, the only reason I am doing so well remembering names is that almost every male I met at the school had a business card. Next I was introduced to Chihiro Kurokawa, Yamato Nishi’s music teacher (pictured with me above.) Chihiro’s warm smile and cheerful personality were welcomed attributes after months of not knowing what to expect. She speaks very little English and I speak even less Japanese, but we were able to communicate quite well thanks to Taka and Soma Sensei dropping by to check on me and thanks to the language translation application on Chihiro’s cell phone.
Ironically enough, this also happened to be the day Candy was scheduled to visit Yamato Nishi to present Principal Matsui with the Zama High School yearbook and a ZHS coin. We were all in Pricipal Matsui's office for the ceremony and a photo op.
Chihiro’s one music class for the day was nearly two hours long. Two hours with the same students in a general music class would drive me nuts, but Chihiro was positive and energetic to the end. Her students, all high school aged, learned a beautiful Italian song and began the process of learning to play a traditional Japanese flute. We are at the beginning of the Japanese school year, so I was able to watch Chihiro perform the same duties I annually do, in placing instruments on student’s faces so that sound can be generated. That part of the lesson was not lost in translation. ;-) Chihiro spent the balance of her day teaching computer classes, so we did not meet up again until 3:30 p.m., when it is time for all after school clubs to begin.
Brass Band Club (including woodwinds and percussion) is a student run organization that meets from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. most school days. Each section will rehearse separately in classrooms throughout the school. The band as a whole rehearses with a director on the weekends. The question I will ask in the next day or two, is how the students have become so proficient at their instruments? They do not have a full-time coach (director,) yet each student I listened to played extremely well!
Okay, I finally hit something that threw me for a complete loop. I WAS HELPING TO TEACH SECTIONALS AT YAMATO NISHI!!! Yah, that’s right! Just try telling someone that they are flubbing an articulation in another language. There I was, listening to the trumpets when their first chair student asked me to evaluate their playing. Gasp!!! I made a few comments and then slipped out of the room. At my next stop, the same thing happened. While listening to a young lady play tuba, she stopped and asked me to help her. This repeated itself several times. I even found myself playing baritone along with one young lady that just happened to bring an extra baritone with her to practice. I did my best to help, but felt woefully inadequate given the language barrier and the fact that I was not given permission to assist the students. However, I was later assured by Taka later that I was right to help when asked. Matter-o-fact he asked me to stay again Wednesday and Friday to continue to help the band students. I will do my best, but I really need to get further in my Rosetta Stone course if I hope to return. Taka said that the woodwinds were jealous and wanted me to help them today. Alas, I can’t even turn off the teaching switch 14 time zones and 6,290 miles from home. I am only too happy to help. :-)
Dinner was at a restaurant in Sagami-Ono, suggested by Chihiro, then back to collapse at the apartment.
-k
Brass Band Club (including woodwinds and percussion) is a student run organization that meets from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. most school days. Each section will rehearse separately in classrooms throughout the school. The band as a whole rehearses with a director on the weekends. The question I will ask in the next day or two, is how the students have become so proficient at their instruments? They do not have a full-time coach (director,) yet each student I listened to played extremely well!
Okay, I finally hit something that threw me for a complete loop. I WAS HELPING TO TEACH SECTIONALS AT YAMATO NISHI!!! Yah, that’s right! Just try telling someone that they are flubbing an articulation in another language. There I was, listening to the trumpets when their first chair student asked me to evaluate their playing. Gasp!!! I made a few comments and then slipped out of the room. At my next stop, the same thing happened. While listening to a young lady play tuba, she stopped and asked me to help her. This repeated itself several times. I even found myself playing baritone along with one young lady that just happened to bring an extra baritone with her to practice. I did my best to help, but felt woefully inadequate given the language barrier and the fact that I was not given permission to assist the students. However, I was later assured by Taka later that I was right to help when asked. Matter-o-fact he asked me to stay again Wednesday and Friday to continue to help the band students. I will do my best, but I really need to get further in my Rosetta Stone course if I hope to return. Taka said that the woodwinds were jealous and wanted me to help them today. Alas, I can’t even turn off the teaching switch 14 time zones and 6,290 miles from home. I am only too happy to help. :-)
Dinner was at a restaurant in Sagami-Ono, suggested by Chihiro, then back to collapse at the apartment.
-k
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