What are 121 PTNA Branch Offices Doing to Support Teachers?
2014/12/28 | コメント(0)
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PTNA has 121 branches that organize competition, STEP, seminars, concerts, etc. in each region. Currently, 62% of PTNA members belong to branches. The largest one is Funabashi branch (Chiba) that has 470 affiliate members. Since its establishment in 2001, the branch has been developed rapidly by vigorous activities in every aspect; organizing seminars 100 times a year, finding new local music leaders and establishing subordinate Stations (13 stations at present), publishing and delivering monthly newsletter, updating blog news "PTNA Community" on regular basis, organizing extra events (concerts and seminars) at the branch members assembly, etc.
According to Hiroyuki Taguchi, the chief administration officer of the Funabashi branch and staff of Ito Music Instrument Shop, "PTNA has various people who have rich experiences in teaching, performing and studio organizations, and thus teachers can find ideas and solutions about daily issues here. Activities in branches would help create the connection with new people, and my role is to facilitate them.
Miho Abe, One of the affiliate members and representative of Shirai "Play with Notes" Station, says that the connection in the branch helps her find good colleagues in local community.
Branch offices exist not only in metropolitan areas, but also in small-sized regions. The Tsuyama branch is located in the mountainous area in Okayama, the southwest part of Japan. Despite the size of the city (population of 150,000), music learning is active and the number of participants has reached 192 people /groups in the PTNA competition, and 230 people/ groups in STEP this year. Michiko Matsuda, the representative of Tsuyama branch and Maniwa Shiraume Station, became PTNA member in 1999 and has been dedicating herself in branch activities, in partnership with local teachers and branch administration office (Pianoforte Studio AMZ).
On October 21st, the assembly of branch administration officers was held in Fukuoka, in which Taguchi shared his activities in the past 10 years in Funabashi branch. Ryuichiro Ishitobi, the chief administration officer of Kumamoto branch and staff of Piano Harp Co.Ltd, was impressed with his speech and determined that he put more value on face to face communication with students and their parents, support their piano teachers, and spread out the value of piano in the society. Last year, he supported the inauguration of the first STEP Station, "Kumamoto Kinasse Station" (Kinasse, dialect of "please come"). Kazuko Kuroki, the representative of the station, was glad to have his advice and support, and that made the first event successful.
More than 80% of the branches work in partnership with local music shops, but some are administered by members themselves. In Kitami branch in Hokkaido, the northernmost branch, Yuko Tanaka (the representative) and 20 affiliate members collaborate each other to take charge of all the branch activities. One of the new members, Yoshika Nakabayashi told that this collaboration brought her new friendship, better understanding of competition and STEP, various ideas for piano lessons, and wider perspective.
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