The Department of Musical Performance
Purpose
The Department of Musical Performance consists of three courses: Instrumental, Vocal, and Virtuoso. In addition to learning the performance skills and musical techniques related to each major, students will enhance their abilities with different types of performances, such as instrumental solos, vocal solos, chamber music, orchestral music, ensemble, and groups. The aims are to deepen understanding of the culture and history behind music through performance interpretation and repertoire research, and to develop capable people who can contribute to the development of cultural and artistic activities. This is achieved by gaining practical experience through opportunities to perform in public examinations, auditions, and various concerts.
Features of the Department
In the Department of Musical Performance, individual lessons are offered for each course to suit both the ability and personality of the student. These lessons, which are provided by excellent instructors, develop high-level skills and musicality. We invite renowned musicians and instructors from overseas as guest professors to conduct special lessons, public lectures, and concerts. One feature of these courses is that students experience many stage performances. These include concert examinations, orchestra, choir and wind ensemble performances both on- and off-campus, ensemble classwork presentations and both domestic and international performance trips. Students who achieve excellent grades are able to perform at their graduation concert and at a range of newcomer events.
The Curriculum
The semester-based curriculum includes one-on-one lessons for students to learn advanced performance skills and expressiveness. The compulsory subjects, including “Solfège”, “Harmony” and “The History of Western Music”, cultivate the basic skills needed as a musician. In addition to the specialized classes tailored to each course, there are also ensemble classes, including wind band, orchestra, mixed chorus, chamber music and groups.
In the first and second year, a student’s study focuses on the basics of specialist classes, but they may choose to study from certain “free subjects” depending on their advancement through the year, to support their individual career preferences. Students may choose one foreign language from English, German, Italian and French, which is compulsory until the second year.
Course List
Instrumental Course: Key Instrument Specialization (Piano Major)
The curriculum has been created to develop pianist skills within four years and to achieve an advanced level of performance. In addition to acquiring an essential solo repertoire, students can choose classes such as “Keyboard History”, “Beginner Performance Techniques” and “The Basics of Accompaniment” in their first and second years, and “Piano Ensemble Studies”, “Introduction to Improvisation”, “Piano Instruction Studies”, and “Score Reading” in their third and fourth years. Students are able to choose ensemble lessons and are given the chance to present these on stage. Students selected in soloist auditions will be given the chance to perform concertos both on- and off-campus at university orchestra concerts and tours.
Instrumental Course: Key Instrument Specialization (Organ Major)
Our school possesses six pipe organs; the Beethoven Hall in the Ekoda campus and the Bach Saal in the Iruma campus are both equipped with the highest quality organs in the country. Students can use these in their lessons to broaden their repertoire of music from a wide range of time periods. To facilitate the extensive knowledge required of a professional, this unique curriculum includes specialized classes for the organ including “Basso Continuo” and ”Improvisation“. Students experience a variety of performances, including accompaniment to the choir and orchestra, in an ensemble, and by presenting the work of classmates enrolled in the composition courses.
Instrumental Course: Wind Instrument Specialization
Highly experienced instructors and leading musicians take these lessons. In addition to solo lessons, we also offer ensemble classes for orchestras and wind bands, providing the opportunity for students to present their achievements in concerts both within and outside the school. The orchestra and the band are highly acclaimed for their performances in Japan and abroad. We also offer the “Orchestral Studies” course which is taught by a professional orchestra instrumentalist. Students are able to choose classes such as “Chamber Music”, and are given the opportunity to perform on stage.
◎ Majors
Flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba
Instrumental Course: Percussion Specialization
These in-depth lessons are taught by highly experienced instructors with plenty of instruments and in specific practise rooms for percussion. Through lessons, practical examinations and performances, students learn from basic skills to advanced techniques. In the study of percussion instruments from the classical era to modern day, and through “Orchestral Studies”, students can develop a repertoire of a range of genres. Students accumulate performance experience through opportunities to join the orchestra and wind bands in regular concerts and tours.
◎ Majors
Marimba, percussion instruments (snare drums etc.), timpani
Instrumental Course: String Instrument Specialization
Leading musicians from Japan and overseas instruct with the aim of improving musical performance skills, and students will also gain a comprehensive overview of the basics of music education through Piano, Solfège, Harmony and the History of Western Music. A wide range of ensemble classes are available, such as orchestral, chamber music, and groups, enabling students to develop their careers as a string instrumentalists. Students gain a diverse range of performance experience through regularly held orchestral and chamber music concerts, public practical examinations and selected student concerts. We also offer an “Orchestral Studies” class which is taught by an instructor with professional experience as an orchestra instrumentalist. A variety of auditions are held, and there are many opportunities for students to compete with each other.
◎ Majors: Violin, viola, cello, contrabass, harp
Vocal Course
Instructors provide detailed lessons based on a relationship of mutual trust with their student, using every opportunity to draw out their true potential. We also offer foreign language classes for vocalists, including German, Italian and French diction. Students deepen their appreciation for music together as they participate in many concerts including solo, groups, chorus and ensemble, in halls both on- and off-campus. We also offer classes to study opera, and opera screenings are held. In a choir, you will also have the opportunity to perform alongside the school orchestra and prominent professional orchestras.
Virtuoso Course
“Virtuoso” is an Italian word that means “master of music” and “person with excellence in the (musical) arts”. As the name suggests, this course aims to develop professional musicians by focusing on the practical education of instrumental or vocal music. With a unique practical curriculum, students gain expertise and performance skills. The large number of concerts enable students to present their daily achievements, which is a vital step towards setting future aims. We invite renowned musicians and instructors from overseas as guest professors to give special lessons, public lectures, and concerts. Students can take specialized practical lessons (90 minutes) with excellent instructors from both Japan and abroad. Along with classes such as ensemble, chamber music, chorus, and vocal ensembles, “Repertoire Research” and “Performance Seminar” are incorporated as required subjects. By acquiring a lot of practical stage experience, including recital-style public performance exams and participation in “New Stream Concert” in this course, students increase their repertoire and gain excellent performance abilities.
