Yamaha Music Education System: celebrating 50 years of growth

American Music Teacher, August-Sept, 2005 by Kathy Anzis

"Music is a universal language allowing us to communicate our feelings. Feelings of joy--or pain--can be shared in a way that transcends differences in race or nationality. This is natural: we are all human beings. We tend to think that we are divided by race, ideology, and language, but ... music, a universal language, [is] a tool to communicate with each other." (4)

NOTES

(1.) Kawakami, Genichi. Reflections on Music Popularization. (Tokyo: Yamaha Music Foundation, 1987): 20.

(2.) Ibid., 6.

(3.) Kawakami, Genichi. Children are the Best Teachers, (Tokyo: Yamaha Music Foundation, 1981): 86-87.

(4.) Kawakami, Genichi. Reflections on Music Popularization. (Tokyo: Yamaha Music Foundation, 1987): 15.

Resources:

Yamaha Music Foundation Website: www.yamaha-mf.or.jp/conte.html

Yamaha Corporation of America Website: www.yamaha.com

Technology, Entertainment, Design Website: www.ted.com

YMES Graduates: Giving the Gift of Music

When a child experiences a happy, positive introduction to the world of music, the stage is set for a lifetime of music participation. As performers, composers, conductors, teachers and music advocates. Yamaha Music Education System graduates continue to give the gift of music to others.

Max Levinson, now an accomplished pianist and recording artist, remembers, "It was in the Primary Course [Yamaha Junior Music Course] that I learned that music was fun. and this I have kept my whole life." Levinson. who completed graduate studies at the New England Conservatory of Music, won first prize at the 1997 Guardian Dublin International Piano Competition, the first American to achieve this distinction. He now travels the world performing with renowned symphonies and conductors.

YMES graduate, the late Linda Martinez developed into a gifted jazz pianist, performing both with Destiny's Child and regularly on a popular late night television show. YMES's emphasis on creativity influenced her desire to devote her energies to composition. After graduating from YMES, she earned a degree in music composition from the University of Southern California, where she was named Outstanding Graduate of the School of Music. In 2004, she won the Turner Classic Movies Young Film Composers Competition, beating a formidable field of 500 competitors.

At age 14, the career of Jennifer Lin is yet to be determined. However, her advanced YMES musical training has already led to recognition. Lin was invited to give a presentation on "creative flow" at the Technology, Entertainment and Design Conference in 2004. After speaking about creativity, she improvised a piece based on five notes chosen at random by an audience member, actress Goldie Hawn, The performance prompted ABC News to name Jennifer Lin "Person of the Week."

Kevin Noe, the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, relates his early impressions of Yamaha music lessons: "Yamaha classes gave me a special interest that was mine alone to care about and take seriously. The Yamaha classes also taught me self-discipline. If you don't practice, you won't be able to do the work." Noe is a tireless supporter and promoter of composers, performers and the arts. constantly commissioning and premiering new works for ensembles and orchestras.