About Yamaha Music Schools
A brief history of the Yamaha Music Education System, from its origins in the 1950's to the present day. Over this time, many lives have been touched by the joys of making and teaching music.
The Yamaha courses began in the mid-1950s in Japan under the direction of Mr. Gen’ichi Kawakami, the president of Nippon-Gakki Company, Ltd. (now called Yamaha Corporation). Mr. Kawakami believed his company was responsible not only for making a quality product, but also for teaching customers how to use the product. Consequently, he established the non-profit Yamaha Music Foundation (YMF) in 1966 for the purpose of developing and promoting music education and music popularization activities internationally. YMF guides the development of the Yamaha Music Education System in 41 countries and also sponsors international events such as the Junior Original Concert (JOC).
In the United States, the Music Education Division of Yamaha Corporation of America works in cooperation with Yamaha Music Foundation to design new courses, improve instructional quality, and refine existing programs.
Over 6,000,000 students around the world have studied at Yamaha Music Schools. Based on 50 years of experience, the Yamaha curriculum is:
Fun
People in 40 countries around the world enjoy their lessons at Yamaha Music School! Based on cutting edge know how, Yamaha’s curriculum introduces people age 3 to 99 to music in group lessons with their friends, where through age appropriate activities, images, songs and experiences they develop a love of music. Inspiring private lessons are also an important part of Yamaha’s curriculum.
High Quality
Yamaha Music School graduates include millions of music makers, teachers, performers, and professionals world wide. The approach and the student textbooks and materials are widely regarded by educators as the best available.
Comprehensive
Yamaha's method cultivates musical ability, creativity, and a love of music. Students learn to hear, play, read, understand, and appreciate every aspect of music. As they advance, children study performance, improvisation and composition. For adults, the Yamaha method offers a relaxing, non-threatening environment enabling them to realize their life long dream of learning to play the piano.
Beneficial
Research has shown time and again that intellectual, emotional, and physical development is positively and deeply impacted by music study. Yamaha Music School encourages the development of a healthy mind, body and spirit.
Yamaha Music School Graduates
The activities of Yamaha Music School graduates around the world are a testimony to the scope, appeal, and quality of the Yamaha method. These graduates include millions who appreciate and enjoy music as a vital part of their lives as well as those who have attended major music conservatories, won national and international music competitions, and become professional musicians and teachers.
Max Levinson
First Prize, 1997 Dublin International Piano Competition, 1999 Avery Fisher Career Grant, 2005 Andrew Wolf Award. B.A, Harvard; Artist Diploma, New England Conservatory. Faculty, Boston Conservatory
Ayoko Uehara
1st Prize in the 12th Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow. Recording artist for EMI Classics. Concerts in major venues around the globe.
Paul Romero
Concert pianist and composer. Performances throughout North America and Europe. Recent commissions include the Pasadena Symphony and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Compositions recorded by Sony.
Hiromi Uehara
Jazz recording artist for Telarc international. Appearances at major jazz clubs throughout the US, Europe, and Asia including the Blue Note in NY, Tokyo, and Milan. Recordings and appearances with Oscar Peterson, Chick Corea, and Stanley Clarke trio. Jazz artist and album of the year in 2008.
Keiko Matsui
Internationally renowned jazz composer, pianist, recording artist with more than 20 albums to her credit in Japan and the US. Annual world tours and performances in leading venues around the globe.
Jeremy Siskind
Full scholarship to Eastman School of Music. Recent Guest on NPR “Piano Jazz” interviewed and performing with Marian McPartland, one of the youngest guests in the history of the show.
Kevin Noe
In 1994, he was awarded the Maurice Abravanel fellowship as a conducting fellow at the Tanglewood Institute. Music Director of the Orchestras at Duquesne University, in Pittsburgh, PA. Music Director of the orchestras and Assistant Professor of music at the University of Texas in Austin, TX. He also served as a regular conductor for the Pittsburgh Opera Center .Artistic Director and Principle Conductor of the Pittsburg New Music Ensemble.
Tamir Hendelman
Award-winning jazz pianist Tamir Hendelman has performed with the Jeff Hamilton Trio, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Harry Allen, Teddy Edwards, Warren Vache, Houston Person, Jeff Clayton, Nick Brignola, Phil Upchurch, Rickey Woodard, John Clayton and Barbara Morrison. He also leads his own trio.
Jennifer Lin
Presented by Peter Jennings as ABC News Person of the Week in March 2004 appearing on prime time national network television. Guest in April 2006 on the Oprah Winfrey Show, performing and improvising on a theme provided by Oprah before an International television audience. Now a student at UCLA in Los Angeles.