The Teacher is the Key
"When looking back at one's life, everyone carries somewhere in their heart a teacher that enlightened them in various ways, in terms of character or intellect."
|
The initial YMES teacher training is administered over a two-year period. Only teachers sponsored by authorized Yamaha Music Schools may enter the training process. Upon passing entrance examinations, teachers attend seminars locally and at Yamaha Corporation of America headquarters in southern California. In addition, teachers receive feedback from a team of mentor teachers who evaluate videos of their classes. As they continue their career, teachers attend seminars that introduce new and revised courses and participate in workshops on a variety of subjects. The Yamaha Music Foundation of Japan, a nonprofit organization established in 1966, and the Music Education Division of Yamaha Corporation of America develop and distribute a wide variety of materials to support teacher in providing an effective education. The teacher is critical to the effectiveness and success of all methods. Yamaha music teachers must possess a variety of skills; they must be able to sing on pitch expressively, play piano and electronic keyboards, accompany, conduct, transpose, improvise and manage both children and their parents in a group setting. Of course, they also must enjoy young children and have the ability to motivate them and communicate with them effectively. |
  |
In every Yamaha music class, the teacher is responsible for creating an atmosphere conducive to learning. This means smiles, laughter and energy, as well as quieter moments--times for closeness between parent and child and moments to appreciate the beauty and intricacies of music--all should be part of the class experience. The teacher engages the students in many ways, all of which are intended to draw children's attention to the music and build a desire to participate. Imagery, story telling, pictures and movement stimulate the children, but the teacher's musical performance of a piece and his or her corresponding facial and physical expressions are of the utmost importance.