”やさしいお琴　奏音（かのん）”日本古来の琴の音色を大切にしながら、誰もが簡単に演奏できるお琴です。

KOTO,across the world!!

What is "KANON"?

　　

KANON Instructor Program

This porogram will be directed by Masako Naito(at the right back);a representative of Doremi pop-corn club, and Akari Naito(at the left back).

Kanon instructor program will start from March 9th to April 5th,2016 in Nagahama city,Shiga. We are looking for passionate individuals who love koto sound and have interest to be Kanon's instructors. Koto experiences are not essential,but experiences with musical instruments are preferable. In this program,you will learn Koto technique,Koto knowledge, and Koto teaching method.

You will also perform a tune for annual concert of Doremi pop-corn club held on April 3rd.
In this concert,we invite guest musicians over the world and all participants enjoy an 　　　ensemble with them in the finale. At the end of this program,you will take a practical test to qualify Kanon's instructor. We will support you continuously with skype lessons after you 　go back home.


●Duration :4 weeks
●Dates:March 9th -April 5th,2016　*No lesson on Saturdays,Sundays,and a holiday
●Program fee:210,000 JPY
　*Accommodation,instructor license,koto rental,koto picks and textbook are all included.
　*Skype support lesson fee after the program is 3,000 JPY per hour.
●Requirement for participants:Japanese or English speakers who can read a music score.
　The participants to be earnest and open-minded to learn a new culture
　*This program will be explained in both Japanese and English.
●The possible number of participants:up to 5 people
●Application deadline:January 11th,2016
　*The result will be informed within a week after your application document is received.


The lesson schedule 　*This schedule may possibly be changed

WEEK1	･Tuning/･Fingering practice (the thumb,the fore finger and the middle finger) ･"Awasedume"(2 chords)/･"Oshite"(using left hand) ･Practicing some music with these technics
WEEK2	･"Awasedume"(3 chords)/･Tremoro/･Glissando/･Arpeggio and practicing some music with 　　 　these technics
WEEK3	･"Kakite"/"Sukuidume"/･Pizzicato/･Staccato and practicing some music with these technics
WEEK4	･"Hikiiro"/"Tsukiiro"/"Yuriiro" and practicing some music with these technics ･practicing ensemble music

Our optional programs offer a special opportunity to experience traditional and modern Japanese culture.
Such as...
･Tea ceremony
･Calligraphy
･Pottery
･Japanese paper(washi) craft workshop
･Noh mask craft workshop
･Zen temple experience
･Kannon tour
･Kyoto tour ...and more!
*These fees are charged separetely.You can reserve after your arrival.

A sample music for instructor program

　"Oboro dukiyo"(a hazy moon);one of the music for the program
　

The privileges of Kanon's instructors

After finishing Kanon instructor program,you can get ●A completion certificate of instructor program 　　　　　　 ●The privilege to start Doremi pop-corn club class　　　　　 ●Full support of Doremi pop-corn club for recruting students ●The right to use original textbooks and materials developed 　by Doremi pop-corn club ●The right to buy Kanon,accessories and textbooks at a 　　　　discount 　　　　　　 ●The right to sell Kanon,accessories and textbooks　　　　　 *These are just some parts.

a certificate image

Facilities and accomodation

All facilities are located inside one building.
Doremi pop-corn club lesson studio and accomodation facilities are connected with the short stairs and the passage.

Lesson studio

Living and Dining room

Bed room and washitsu

There are two bed rooms and one washitsu(Japanese style tatami room).
You will either stay in a single or duble room and must be prepared to share with another participant.A toilet and a bathroom to be shared with all residents.
The kitchen and the dining room are usable anytime. Please note you need to prepare your own meal during your stay.Free bread,cereal,tea or coffee are available for your breakfast.
There are two shopping centers and some restrants nearby.One shopping center across the street is opend 24hrs for groceries,so it's very convenient to get your food.

Payment

･The program fee 210,000JPY(including accomodation), to be paid via Paypal within 14days 　after the application is accepted.If the payment is not confirmed after 14 days,the 　　　 　　application will be invalid.

･Cancellation policy
　*10% of the fee will be charged by 30 to 14days before the first date of the program.
　*50% of the fee wil lbe charged by 13 to 4 days before the first date of the program.
　*100% of the fee will be charged by 3 to 1 days before the first date of the program.

Our activities

Kanon's introduction movie Kanon's introduction movie *only in Japanese

What is Kanon like？→Click Let's play ”Ookina furudokei”！→Click!

◆12th annual concert held on March 23rd,2014 (Mibara city,Shiga)
　With a Mexican folklore group"Amankay"
　　
　　　
　　　　　 　　Cielito Lindo(Mexican folklore)
　　　　　　　　　　　　

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Performance at "AiChikyu-haku"(International expo),Thai pavillion

National Recreation conference opening act at Otsu prince hotel

	The 100th anniversary of Japan&Brazil exchange concert　 　At Maibara bunka sangyo koryu kaikan

Masako's profile; A represantative of Doremi pop-corn club

Music career

･Started playing koto and shamisen from a young age.

･Graduated from Seiha music school where developed professional koto musicians.

･Studied under Yasuko Nakajima,a representative of Seiha Ikutaryu and learned jazz theory 　from Akikazu Nakamura and Takeshi Yamaguchi.

Activities

• ･Has held a variety of live concerts ranging from jazz to Asian music (sitar etc)
• ･Her musical performance in Germany in the Summer of 2000 very well received.
• ･In 2000, she developed a new type of koto,”Doremi pop-corn” (now changed to "Kanon") and established its music school ”Doremi pop-corn club”in 2001. She also works as A representative of Doremi pop corn club.
• ･Her music style is full of variety including traditional Japanese music,classical,jazz ,Latin and folk music. She played koto with western music in Switzerland,Germany,Monaco the U.S.,and Brazil so far.At the same time,she also held workshops in Switzerland and Germany in 2010,2014 and in Brazil in 2013.
• ･This new koto was introduced as an “epoch-making koto”in a technical book of “The Koto” published in the U.S.in 2004(written by Henry Johnson, a researcher of ethnic music).
• ･From 2011, Masako opened a new course named ”An Easy Koto Lesson”for elementary and junior high school students, which was a part of “The sightseeing promotion and the regional vitalization enterprise activating cultural heritage”authorized by the Agency for cultural affairs. She dedicates herself to instruct children besides her music activities.

◆Appeared in the technical book,"THE KOTO" 　　　Written by Henry Johnson;a researcher of ethnic music

Message from Masako

I appreciate of your interest for Kanon's instructor program. If you like music and Koto,it won't be so difficult to learn Kanon.You would master a variety of music as you enjoy. I used to play traditional Koto from childhood.However,it's hard to carry because of its size(180cm) especially traveling abroad.Having a different musical scale(a pentatonic scale) and score,it's also difficult to play with other western musical instruments.

I wanted to play various genres of music and play with musical instruments over the world and it motivated me to develop the new Koto. Since I developed this Koto,my life completely changed.I could meet and play with the musicians around the world.I also had chances to perform in Swiss,Germany,Monaco,the U.S.and Brazil so far.Whenever I play Koto overseas,I feel music has no border.We can get together and enjoy the moment without words.This is one of the greatest things about music. Our music activities are opening to the world! Won't you become Kanon's instructor and travel around the world with us? I'm waiting for your participation and looking forward to playing with you!

◆Mellifluous sound　（Masako's original）

◆Performance in Zurich,Swiss　（an ensemble with violin） 　June 15th,2010 　at Kulturhaus Helferei,Zurich

About Shiga and Nagahama

Shiga prefecture is located in the center of "Honshu",the main island of Japan and between the major cities of Osaka and Nagoya. It is the site of "Biwako",the largest lake in Japan.Having 4 million years history ,it is also called "Mother lake"and it takes an important role to provide water in industry,agriculture, and supporting the lives of the people live in western Japan. Once there was an imperial capital in Otsu, when Emperor Tenji moved from Kyoto in 667. Thereby Shiga has many historical sites such as temples,shrines,castels with beautiful nature.

Nagahama city is located in the northeast of Shiga It takes only an hour to Kyoto and 1.5 hour to Osaka and Nagoya by JR line. Nagahama was a castle town since Toyotomi Hideyoshi ruled this area in the late 16th century. Although the castle had been ruined,it was reconstructed in 1983 and is open as Nagahama castle historical museum. Kurokabe square is one of the most popular spots in Shiga.There are some glass galleries and studios,shops,restaurants and cafes.You can enjoy touring around!

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