Yamaha Music School of Boston Holds First Remote Masterclass
Innovative Technology Holds Exciting Potential for Music Education
On Saturday, April 14, 2012, YMS Boston participated in its first Yamaha Remote Lesson Masterclass.
A new frontier in music education, Yamaha’s Disklavier® RemoteLesson allows for a connection of two or more Yamaha Disklaviers online, permitting collaboration between pianists to and from anywhere in the world.
The masterclass was conducted by Berenika Zakrzewski and hosted by Yamaha Corp of America in Buena Park, CA. The event followed a traditional masterlcass format, with Ms. Zakrzewski working with one student performer at a time while the other students and audience in both California and Lexington watched and listened.
Three Yamaha students from Southern California were joined by YMS Boston student Jennifer Murphy in performing for Ms. Zakrzewski. The audience at YMS Boston included advanced course students and families, teachers, staff, and distinguished guests from Yamaha Corporation of Japan. The event concluded with a performance of Chopin’s Etude Op. 10 No. 12 by Ms. Zakrzewski.
Southern California and YMS Boston were connected together on a live feed using Skype, video cameras, and a large TV monitor. The audience at YMS Boston could see the piano, student performer, teacher, and classroom in California; the California audience could see the same at YMS Boston.
Although this set-up was adeq
uate to support the visual and verbal communication between the two locations, the true potential of the event was realized in the musical performances through the connection of the two Yamaha Disklavier’s using the RemoteLesson technology.
When the student or teacher performed on the Disklavier in California, the information was transmitted and immediately reproduced with imperceptible accuracy, detail, and nuance on the Disklavier for the audience at YMS Boston, and vice-versa. That is, the same piano keys moved, the same pedaling occurred, and all of the sound came from the ‘partner’ Disklavier. Rather than hearing the piano performance as a compressed audio file being played through a TV monitor, the audience was able to experience the music as if the pianist was right there in the room with them.
Experiencing the performance in this way allowed for a more true dialogue between the teacher, student, and audience. YMS Boston Director Jim Keenan remarked, “In breaking down the barriers of distance, the RemoteLesson and RemoteLive technology holds tremendous potential for music education and live performance. As a newly certified center for Remote Lesson, our students and faculty will be an active part of this exciting new landscape.”
Yamaha teacher John Stapp performs and teaches with energy and passion
By Catherine Flora Con
On the evening of February 21, 2012, Yamaha teacher John Stapp gave a free concert at the Boston Athenaeum. His program included repertoire that defined an era of American piano music: Three Preludes by George Gershwin, Six Preludes and Toccata by Robert Muczynski, the third movement of Charles Ives’ Concord Sonata (“The Alcotts”), and Samuel Barber’s Sonata for Piano, Op. 26. In addition, Stapp played Five Fantasy Pieces Op. 3 by Sergei Rachmaninoff, the great Russian composer who spent much of his life and later career in the United States during the 20th century.
The performance showcased Stapp’s ability to play with both poetic introspection and technical prowess. Phyllis Nordstrom of Performing Arts New England observes, “Stapp played [the second Gershwin prelude, Blue Lullaby] from the heart, seemingly transporting himself to a solitary place away from the audience to commune with the work’s serenity.” Additionally, she says this of his Muczynski performance: “ I was privileged to be seated with a view of the… keyboard, where Stapp’s two-hand acrobatics were on display. It was during these works that Stapp played with eyes fully opened.”
An experienced teacher as well as performer, John’s piano students at Yamaha M
usic School of Boston are benefitting from their teacher’s combination of hard work, skill, and determination. Last spring, two of John’s students took home top prizes from the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association festival (MMTA). A few weeks ago at the MMTA festival 2012, two of his students won first place and two others won honorable mentions in their divisions.
As if teaching and practicing aren’t enough, Stapp is currently the chair of the 2012 MMTA Bay State Contest in Fitchburg, MA. He is a graduate of The Boston Conservatory (M.M.), and is on the faculty of Quincy College, and has won numerous awards in piano competitions across the country.
Vocalist, Pianist, and Composer Brings Teaching and Performance Experience to Yamaha
Lexington, MA, December 13, 2011 - Yamaha Music School of Boston is pleased to announce that Jihye Kim has joined the faculty and will begin teaching in February, 2012. Jihye will be teaching Yamaha Music Education System (YMES) classes, and private lessons in voice, piano, and violin.
About her new pos
ition, Jihye says, "I'm very excited and grateful to be joining such a wonderful, talented and welcoming faculty. The Yamaha method is an incredible tool for nurturing and developing young talent and I look forward greatly to learning about and contributing to it."
Jihye has 10 years of teaching experience, working with children through adults, specializing in jazz and contemporary styles for voice, and classical piano and violin. Originally from Toronto, Canada, she is an active performer in Boston and New York-based ensembles and projects.
"Jihye has the unique combination of musical and pedagogical skills to help bring the Yamaha teaching philosophy to life in the classroom, especially in the areas of keyboard performance, improvisation, and singing," states School Director Jim Keenan. "She also demonstrates a genuine dedication to teaching beginning musicians and adults."
Jihye holds degrees in mathematics and music from McMaster University (Hamilton, ON) and Humber College (Toronto), respectively, and recently completed the MM in Jazz Performance at New England Conservatory.
Yamaha Music School teacher Rebecca Helm recently returned from the
World Teacher Forum in Tokyo, Japan. It was an honor for her to be invited by
Yamaha Corporation of America (Buena Park, CA) and the
Yamaha Music Foundation (Tokyo) to represent the US at the Forum, where she met Yamaha teachers from twenty countries around the world. Along with Kathy Anzis, Director of Teaching Training, and Mike Morrell, Manager of Music Education, Rebecca gave a presentation on the teaching sequence of the Yamaha curriculum. The presentation used footage from a
Junior Extension Course 1 class and
Junior Music Course 3 class right here at Yamaha Music School.
During her stay in Tokyo, Rebecca sat in on a few Yamaha classes. Although she couldn’t understand what was being said in Japanese, she was
still able to understand exactly what the teacher was asking the kids to do. “I realized that everyone who participates in the Yamaha curriculum is part of a huge, global picture,” she says. “Students and teachers all around the world are using the same curriculum and speaking the same language: the language of music. The international scope of the method impacts teachers, parents, and students.”
Rebecca also had the exciting opportunity of attending the
International Junior Original Concert (IJOC) at Mirai Hall in Yokohama. Twelve outstanding composers, all under the age of fifteen, performed their original compositions. They hailed from all over the globe, including Italy, USA, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan. “It’s amazing to think that all of the kids on that stage started with Music Wonderland, Junior Music Course, or Young Musicians Course,” Rebecca says.
About the experience, Rebecca says, “It was gratifying to see what these young musicians had accomplished. More importantly, I know that all of our students have the opportunity to develop their own musical creativity. Yamaha’s comprehensive approach, including early ear training, rich experiences in the group lesson, and cultivating musical sensitivity and imagination provides a strong foundation for composition.”
For over 30 y
ears, the Junior Original Concert has inspired audiences around
the world by showcasing the exceptional musical talent of the next generation. On July 31, 2011, YMS Boston student Kento “Kent” Ishii performed his original composition at the National Junior Original Concert in La Mirada, CA. Kent was one of 11 student composers selected from Yamaha schools across the US.
The piece, “Departure,” describes Kent’s journe
y from Japan to the United States a few years ago, and the sadness, thrills, and joys that he found in leaving old friendships and places, and finding new ones. Kent’s piece was chosen from hundreds of other original compositions by talented young musicians across the country, and his performance was broadcast live on the web.
Kent began studying music at age three in the Music Wonderland program at the Yamaha Music School of Tokyo. When his family relocated, he transferred to YMS Boston and joined the Junior Special Advanced Course (JSAC). He takes private lessons with Ayako Hattori, and studies composition with Aaron Jackson. Kent and his parents, Tomoe and Toru Ishii, live in Arlington, MA.
You can watch Kento's performance on the Yamaha Hub by clicking here.
Yamaha Music School Boston Kicks-Off Fall Semester with Open House on Saturday and Sunday, September 10th and 11th.
Weekend Event Features Over 20 Preview Lessons
Families can register to reserve a space in one of Yamaha's popular music classes for beginning musicians:
Preview lessons are a fun and informative way for parents to evaluate the Yamaha class 'in action' with their child! Led by an experienced and certified Yamaha teacher, families jump right with and participate in the primary activities unique to the Yamaha class. Each lesson lasts for about 30 minutes, followed by a 15-minute question and answer session.
The Open House also features information sessions, tours, and student performances.
Click here to reserve a space in one of the preview lesson classes. Space is filled on a first-come, first serve basis.
More About the Yamaha Music School Boston
Music Lesson Schedule Enrollment Yamaha Music Education System (YMES)
Faculty Frequently Asked Questions What Parents and Students Are Saying
YMS Boston Student Kento Ishii to Perform on National Concert
Join us for the live web broadca 
st of the 2011 US National Junior Original Concert. Outstanding Yamaha Music School students from throughout North America will perform their original compositions, including YMS Boston's very own Kento Ishii.
Click here to watch the concert live on Sunday, July 31, 2011 at 7pm EDT / 6pm CDT / 4pm PDT.
For over 30 years, the Junior Original Concert has inspired audiences around the world by showcasing the exceptional musical talent of the next generation. You won’t want to miss the 2011 concert featuring 11 gifted children age 7-12.
About YMS Boston Student Kento Ishii
Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Kento Ishii began his musical studies at the age of 3 at Yamaha Music School of Tokyo, studying singing, keyboard activities, and listening to music at the Music Wonder Land. After he completed the Junior Music Course, he has joined the Junior Special Advanced Course, studying piano, and composition, ear training, and music reading and writing.
With his family relocated to Boston when he was in the first grade, he transferred from Yamaha Music School of Tokyo to Yamaha Music School of Boston in April 2010, thanks to the Yamaha international network. He is currently in the Junior Special Advanced Course 4, studying with Ayako Hattori. Kento has also been playing the violin since he was five years old. In addition to music, he loves playing soccer.
Yamaha Music School of Boston All-School Concerts
Sunday, June 19 2011
12:30 and 3:00pm
Cary Hall, Lexington
On Sunday, June 19, students from over 75 local communities will be performing in one of two Yamaha All-School Concerts at Cary Hall in Lexington, MA.
Each concert will feature 26 classes of students ages 4-12, from beginner to advanced, performing repertoire from the Yamaha Music Education System (YMES).
The concerts are free and open to the public. Click here for directions.
Program: Sat 4:30 Dress Rehearsal & Sunday 12:30 Concert
Program: Sat 6:00 Dress Rehearsal & Sunday 3:00 Concert
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Free & Open to the Public - Tickets Required. Click Here to Reserve Tickets.
Download the program (pdf)
Friends, Family, and Children Welcome - Reception to Follow
Donations Accepted for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association's Symphony Hall Scholars Program
Suggested Donation: $10 for individual tickets or $25 per family. Please make checks payable to MMEA/ Symphony Hall Scholars.
The purpose of the Symphony Hall Scholars is to provide support to defray the All State Music Festival registration fee so as to ensure that as many gifted and talented high school musicians as possible can participate in this outstanding and prestigious annual event. Learn more here.
Performing Works by Bach, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, and Franck
Yamaha faculty member Lucy Chen is presenting a graduate recital on Wed, May 11 @ 8:30pm at the Boston University College of Fine Arts Concert Hall, located at 855 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston.
Lucy began teaching the YMES curriculum in September 2009, and currently has over 100 students in a wide range of classes and ages, including Music Wonderland, Junior Music Course, Young Musicians Course, Junior Extention Course, and private lessons.
-Jim Keenan