Exciting news: EYS is expanding its rhythmics-inspired music program for 6 months and up! Up until now, sessions have only been available at our Ginza studio, but classes will start at our Ueno studio from November and our new Daikanyama studio from December. EYS is also aiming to offer sessions in Kawasaki and the re-furbished Kyoto studio in the near future.

More classes means we need more teachers. Since there are so many brilliant instrumental teachers working at EYS, we first decided to ask if any of our teachers would be interested in teaching our early years program and if they have any relevant experience. We received a positive response from a great number of EYS teachers across the country; Many teachers wanted to know more about the EYS early years program, some had experience teaching rhythmics or teaching very young children in nurseries etc, and a couple were currently studying at the rhythmics research centre in Tokyo. Therefore, it was decided that I would hold training days for these teachers where I would share my method of teaching, explain the aims, goals and contents of the EYS curriculum I am developing and provide hands-on training of activities used in a session. My colleague Yoshitaka would explain about the practical side of EYS rhythmics classes (when, where, how long etc) and offer support and advice drawing on his extensive experience in early years music education. We would also hold discussion time where teachers can ask questions, share their experience and skills and respond to our questions. This way, teachers get a chance to see if the EYS rhythmic method would suit them and my colleague and I can see who would make a great addition to the EYS rhythmics teaching team.

I also wanted the training to be a mutual learning experience; it’s a great opportunity for teachers (including myself) to come together and learn from each other, to exchange ideas and advice and therefore improve our practice. A few teachers said they hoped to skill-up in general and learn something which would benefit their current classes, especially when teaching young children. Not everyone would go on to teach rhythmics as well as their instrumental classes at EYS so it was important that the training we offered was holistic in its approach.

Training in Tokyo began in October and will continue through till December. Towards the end of November, we will hold a training day in Nagoya and Kyoto for interested teachers form the Kansai and Chubu areas. I will feedback on how it goes in my next blogpost!