Activities Aimed at Popularizing Music

  In addition to its music school activities that help raise awareness toward music culture while promoting ongoing development both in and outside Japan, the Yamaha Group works diligently to support the aspirations of those engaged in musical studies through a wide range of initiatives. Through various endeavors focusing on universal design, the Group is striving to create an environment that allows each and every individual to enjoy the wonders of music.

  The Yamaha Group operates music schools both in and outside Japan as a part of efforts to popularize and develop musical culture. The music school business is essentially conducted by the Yamaha Music Foundation, which is responsible for providing a platform that develops a proficiency-oriented curriculum as well as teaching materials and texts, and helps nurture skilled and professional instructors, and Yamaha, whose activities extend to the actual operation of schools. To date, Yamaha music schools have catered to the needs of over 5,000,000 graduates in Japan alone putting in place lesson plans tailored to specific ages from young children through adolescents to adults and diverse objectives.

  The Yamaha Group engages in the development and operation of music schools based on an overarching philosophy that focuses on efforts that help nurture the musical talents of people throughout the world. Our goal is to provide individuals with the opportunity to make the most of their skills and capabilities. By helping individuals to create music and to perform, we are endeavoring to convey the joy of music to an ever-increasing audience.

  Since opening the Music Class for Pre-school Children in Tokyo in 1954, the Yamaha Group has provided music education to help enrich the development and growth of children for over five decades. In specific terms, the Yamaha Music Foundation has established and developed the Yamaha Music Education System, a unique education method that is distinguished by its three timely education, group lessons and emphasis on creativity features. Taking full advantage of this unique know-how, and in addition to Yamaha music schools for children that cater to the needs of one-year old infants through to junior high school students, Yamaha's Music Lessons for Adults are currently available both for music enthusiasts as well as individuals interested in learning to play a musical instrument as a hobby.

The Three Features for Nurturing Music Skills

  Considerable emphasis is placed on creativity as one of three elements that comprise the Yamaha Music Education System. This entails lessons that encompass a full range of musical pursuits including listening, singing, playing, reading and creating. Through these means, children are encouraged to express themselves by thinking freely. We work to help children acquire and enhance their sensitivity and imagination that will allow them to fully enjoy the pleasures that music can provide.

  In order for children to enjoy music and to absorb and understand the given material easily, we believe it is best to give them appropriate guidance in accordance with the degree of their physical and mental development. Based on this concept of timely education, emphasis is placed on music fundamentals that focus on listening for pre-school children when hearing capabilities are rapidly developing. This learning process also helps children to more freely express themselves through music heightening interest and enjoyment.

  The third and final element of the Yamaha Music Education System is the Group Lesson format. Group lessons have the advantage of allowing children to enjoy rich musical experiences while making friends in a social environment and developing a stronger sense of cooperativeness.

Engaging in Business Activities Across Over 40 Countries Worldwide While Catering to the Needs of Around 700,000 Students Globally

  Yamaha Music School boasts a significant business scale with a network encompassing approximately 4,300 locations, 500,000 students, and 13,000 instructors in Japan as of June 2011. Graduates to date total more than 5,000,000 students.

  Overseas, around 200,000 students attend Yamaha Music School operating in over 40 countries and regions around the world. In similar fashion to Japan, our overseas activities focus mainly on pre-school education as well as popular music courses that address demand from adults. As we work toward popularizing music, every effort is made to develop a common global philosophy and curriculum that takes into account and harmonizes the music culture and history of each individual country and region.

  The Yamaha Group actively supports all individuals engaged in learning pursuits in their efforts to hone their musical skills and expand their musical endeavors. At the same time the Group strives to enrich community life through a variety of musical events as a part of collective efforts to popularize and develop musical culture.

Local Events to Promote Music Culture

  Each year, Yamaha holds “Hamamatsu Jazz Week” in cooperation with the city of Hamamatsu. In addition to concerts in auditoriums and on the street, activities including free lessons and booths, where participants were offered the opportunity to play instruments were conducted in May 2010. Moreover, Yamaha Music Osaka Co., Ltd. is a member of the planning committee for Kobe Motomachi Music Week, which is held every year in the Motomachi shopping district in Kobe. Through these and other means, the Yamaha Group actively supports the spread of music and culture in communities around Japan.

Spreading the Joy of Wind-Instrument Music through Training Workshops

  Yamaha Music & Electronics (China) Co., Ltd. held training workshops across 12 major cities in China in November 2010. The brass bands of leading schools in each region were invited to attend. Lectures were provided by prominent instructors to an aggregate total of 944 elementary, junior and senior high school students.

Supporting the Musical Pursuits of Artists

  Yamaha Music Europe GmbH (YME) provides young musicians with opportunities to perform while supporting the musical pursuits of artists. YME Iberica Branch takes great pride in assisting Rafael Calderon, a well-known trumpeter with Down syndrome who performs in Spain. In fiscal 2010, the branch produced a magazine advertisement featuring Mr. Calderon.

  Yamaha Corporation is keen to help create an environment in which any and all people can enjoy the pleasures of music. With this in mind, we are considering the merits of incorporating the universal design concept into our products and services. In putting forward this concept, we participated as a sponsoring company in the 3rd International Conference for Universal Design in HAMAMATSU 2010 held between October 30, 2010 and November 3, 2010 in Hamamatsu City in fiscal 2010. Based on the slogan and pledge of “music for you, music with all,” we showcased several universal design prototype products at the corporate exhibition corner of the Conference. Buoyed by this sponsorship and exhibition, the Yamaha Group will again consider adopting a universal design approach. Looking ahead, we will put forward proposals that take full advantage of the power and strength of music to help realize a society that is both rich in communication and that allows people of diverse backgrounds and attributes to live in harmonious comfort.