PTNA NEWS LETTER 2015 www.piano.or.jp/english Piano Teachers’ National Association of Japan 1-15-1 Sugamo Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-8458 JAPAN Tel: +81 (0)3 3944 1581 Fax: +81 (0)3 3944 8838 [email protected] PTNA (PIANO TEACHERS’ NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of JAPAN), founded by Time for Teamwork! Yasuko Fukuda, is a nonprofi t organization of professional piano and music teachers. Duo with Dialogue Makes Double Eff ect Our mission is to advance the value of piano and music teachers committed to furthering a higher level of the pedagogical skills, and to explore cultural and artistic activities by ways of piano. We encourage piano and music teachers in the community to improve the quality of piano pedagogy and performance studies, promote a rich humanism from music pedagogy, communicate with internal and external associations, and contribute to a broader cultural development. -Established : 1966 -Chairperson: Nobuyuki Idei -Vice Chairperson: Yuichiro Hata, Yuko Ninomiya -CEO: Seikoh Fukuda Nobuyuki Idei -Board Members: Trustees, Treasurers. Advisor, Councilors -Groups & Committees Biggest Number of Partici- “Pre-Elementary Grade in Duo”, “Con- *Administration and Organization Group certo with Two Pianos” both in the duo *Research Group pants Ever in 2015! division, and “GrandMuse G Grade” in *STEP Project Group *Competition Group The PTNA Piano Competition had the solo division. -Networks: Branches (124), Stations (421) the biggest number of participants ever, -Number of Members: 15,296 43,486 in total. The statistics show a Pre-Elementary for Duo, -Membership Status: Authorized 112.9% increase since 2011, which and 2,849 Pairs in Total member, Teacher, Performer, Researcher, dropped to a record low in recent Supporter, Student, Corporation, years, as a result of continuous effort This year, 2,849 pairs applied to Grandmuse (amateurs) as of 9/12/2015 of improvements and renewals for the duo division in total, which was a participants of all ages and purposes. 112% increase as compared to last year. 15,000 This year, the growth partly owes to the This division was reshaped to allow 14,000 Number of Members establishment of three new categories; more younger generations to take part 13,000 in it. “The Pre-Elementary Grade” was 12,000 established for those under 8 years 11,000 old each, and 540 pairs participated 10,000 in total. There seemed to be a lot of 9,000 educational effects of practicing to- 8000 gether toward a shared goal. There was 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 a little brother-sister pair who made a PTNA News Letter 2015 Superior. (Collaborators: Aki Kuroda, lot of progress through the preparation professor of Tokyo College of Music) Natsuki Nishimoto, Erika Harada, Rika process. According to their teacher, the gave a lecture on this new category, in Handa, Miwa Hoyano, Eri Mantani) brother took the lead in music making, regards to the musical difference be- while preparing solo pieces at the same tween works written for two pianos and More Dialogues in New Mu- time, and the sister gradually overcame piano concerto with two pianos, as well sical Analysis Booklet her awkwardness by seeing his efforts, as the educational effect of playing two and finally performed with confidence pianos. Musical Analysis booklets for the on stage. They proceeded to the region- required repertoires of PTNA Piano al final round. The Extended Role of the Competition have assisted textual 2nd Teacher- POST System interpretation and understanding of mu- Concerto with Two Pianos sic since 2007. This year, the booklets PTNA launched a new online are remarkably improved to be easily The PTNA Piano Competition service called “PTNA Online Second understood and useful. 18 musicians launches another new category in the Teacher (POST)”. There are some including pianists, piano teachers and duo division, “Concerto with Two Pia- overseas members who occasionally composers engaged in the analyzing nos”. There are two age groups for the provide online piano lessons to stu- works. Some pieces were analyzed soloist part, under 18 (required reper- dents in Japan who are seeking second by two people in order to show how toires) and over 18 (free repertoires). opinions. Here is the procedure. Once different and diverse the interpretations As there is no age limit for pianists you film your performance on video could be. One of the composers and of the orchestral part, participants can or iphone and upload it on youtube, theorists, Tetsuya Akiyama, says that play together with those who have the feedback comments will be given the musical analysis is not a definite in- rich ensemble experiences, or with within 7-14 days by one of the online terpretation, but one of the viewpoints sufficient knowledge of orchestra and teachers you designated. The written to see the score. “I assume that this conducting. comments are shown on the right side booklet could become a partner of your In March, of the screen so that you can see your dialogue to interpret the music and to Mari Takeda performance and comments simulta- conceive your own (Chair of neously. You can replay and relearn idea.” Likewise, the PTNA anytime you want. This service was Mitsuyo Esaki, the Media open for participants of the 2015 PTNA chairperson of the Committee, Piano Competition, from Grade B to Selection Com- Oustanding Young Piano Teachers! Piano Competition in Warsaw in 2005, and the 2002 PTNA Grand Prize winner, began Pianists in their 20s-30s show outstanding achievement teaching children just 3 years ago after in teaching. studying in NY for 3 years and returning Hironao Suzuki, 5th prize in Hamamatsu to Japan in 2012. He has been invited as International Piano Competition in 2003, a lecturer of PTNA seminars from 64 venues so far to and 6th prize in Busoni Piano Competition demonstrate the required repertoires of PTNA Piano in 2000, currently serves as a lecturer Competition. He would like to help students to seek and at Tokyo College of Music and teaches find their own expressions, whatever their ages are. One various laureates. He taught the 2015 PTNA Grand Prize of his current students, Shogo Sawada, got the gold prize winner, Sayako Shinonaga, as well as the silver prize in Grade G, the 2nd highest grade. winners of Grand Superior in 2014 and 2011 (Mayaka Rintaro Akamatsu, the 3rd prize winner Nakagawa, Kei Takumi), and the bronze prize winner in of the Clara Schumann Piano Competition 2012 (Kanade Tsurusawa), just to name a few. According in 2000 has been active in performing, to him, his teaching style could be described as “Y”; the recording and teaching across Japan. He bottom “I” is what he teaches, and the upper “V” is what has taught 273 competition participants so students develop by themselves. far, including prize winners of Grade Superior such as Shohei Sekimoto, the 4th prize winner of the Chopin Nozomu Sugawara (Grand Prize 2011), Mai Koshio (Silver in 2015), and Tomoya Umeda (Bronze in 2014). mittee of Required Repertoires, recom- They played repertoires for the 2nd or mends each user to figure out a clue to 3rd rounds which they did not have a interpret the music, not a solution. chance to play. Now the recordings are The booklets also add an introduc- on the PTNA Youtube Channel. tory chapter to help readers understand composers’ messages correctly and Active Learning Scheme in how to apply musical analysis to their Studio Visiting Program performances effectively. PTNA Studio Visiting Program sic history, and sight reading, 3.seminar 12 Alumni Participated in expands its service. Now the applicants reports, 4.teaching demonstration). Af- the Chopin Competition can choose from two options, lesson ter 20 years, the renewed license sys- observation or lesson trial, depending tem now requires applicants to update 12 Japanese contestants on the style that demonstrators offer. it every three years by taking certain went to the 17th Internation- The former consists of 2h observa- points in each level (elementary, inter- al Chopin Piano Competi- tion and 0.5h discussion, whereas the mediate, advanced). In addition to this tion in Warsaw, where Aimi latter provides 1h observation and major transformation, the performance (c)Wojciech Kobayashi (2011 Yasuko Grzedzinski / 1.5h lesson trial, which is more like an test for the advanced level license has Fukuda Prize)became one NIFC active-learning platform. This program changed to a pass/fail basis, instead of of the finalists. All of them becomes available throughout the year. a participation basis, to certify a certain had experienced PTNA Piano Compe- level of performing ability. tition from their childhood and knew Teachers’ License System Anyone who passes any of the three each other well, and so supported one Enhances Lifelong Learning levels is enabled to indicate a special another during the competition. In label on his/her individual webpage November, PTNA organized a special The PTNA Piano Teachers Ex- on PTNA Teachers’ Matching Service public recording concert for them in amination is reorganized as the Piano for three years. For those who pass all which Mayaka Teachers’ License System. This ex- three levels, they will be entitled to be Nakagawa, amination was inaugurated in 1996 to recommended as a PTNA authorized Yurika Kimura, examine teaching skills both in theory member. This new license system is Mariko No- and performance for the excellence expected to upgrade well-balanced gami, and Nao of the art of teaching (1.performance, teaching and performance skills in the Mieno joined. 2.music theory, harmonic analysis, mu- long run. Whom Do You Study With? understands that parents are sometimes more overexcited than the participants How do young pianists keep their motivation toward themselves. It is important for parents a big goal, and how do teachers, family, and friends to trust children and let them do it support their studies? themselves as much as possible.