Edinburgh College students spread the joy of Scottish music in the Land of the Rising Sun
A group of College Music students have enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime cultural exchange to Japan, where they shared Scottish music and culture and learned about traditional Japanese music and culture in return.
Funded by The Turing Fund and the Daiwa Foundation and with wonderful support from the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh, the eleven students and two lecturers spent two weeks in Tokyo where they took part in a series of different workshops and experiences and dove headfirst into local culture.
The trip took place in partnership with three organisations; Monten Hall, an arts venue in Tokyo also known as “The House where the Song Lives”, where the group undertook lessons in Koto playing, calligraphy and community music-making workshops. PortPort who organised Biwa workshops as well as a visit to Maywa Denki – a quirky factory that makes fun electronic instruments and Masaru Tsuji, who organised our amazing Taiko drumming experiences with both Kanto Yamoto Taiko and himself and fellow Taiko master Taisei Otoma.
In return, our intrepid students and staff ran workshops in local schools and at Kunitachi College of Music, where they shared traditional Scottish music as well as community music workshops.
Here's what our brave travellers have to say about their time in Japan:
Reanne (21): “One of the stand-out moments for me was the community Taiko drumming session. It was a whole new experience… I’ve never seen something so expressive and joyful!”
“Getting to play a traditional Japanese instrument [Koto] was amazing, I’m so thankful I was given that opportunity”.
Debs (45): “The trip to Japan gave me the opportunity to learn about a different culture, not only through music, but through the communities we met whilst we were there. The kindness and generosity we were shown was very humbling”.
“To be in another country that is so culturally different, immersing us in a Japanese way of life, experiencing the food and music, the people and the city of Tokyo, has been an experience that will be a lifelong memory and has definitely enriched my life. It has made me more confident to travel again, with music”.
Kris (21): “The standout moment for me has to be the koto workshop. The sessions were led very skilfully by Ami, who not only taught us to play but delved into the history of the instrument and its place in Japanese culture. In only three short sessions we went from learning basic techniques to performing our first song in front of other koto players and members of the community. This was an opportunity I feel so privileged to have had!”
Whilst it was a transformative experience for our students, the staff who accompanied them on the trip also enjoyed an incredible experience.
Laurie Crump, Music & Sound Production Curriculum Team Leader, says it was a visit packed with amazing moments:
“There were so many highlights, but one that does stick out was visiting the world-class conservatoire in Kunitachi, exploring their museum of musical instruments, and then helping deliver a community music workshop in one of their beautiful concert halls.”
“Maybe the most memorable outings of all was one in which we joined a community Taiko drumming group, including kids and adults of all ages, and were absolutely blown away by their musicianship and energy. It turned into a joyful evening, sharing Japanese and Scottish culture, with each group taking turns to perform to each other. It was magical.”
Jess Abrams, Music & Sound Production Lecturer, who organised and went on the trip, says it was incredible to see how well the students handled themselves in such a new and different culture:
“They were so excited and open to learning all they could while they were in Japan. They were intrepid, adventurous and genuinely excited to experience everything they could while we were there."
She went on to talk about one of the underpinning purposes of the trip – student mobility – giving opportunities to students who may not other have such an opportunity:
“They just grew in confidence as the trip went on. It has definitely given all of us a broader sense of cultures and communities out with the ones we grew up in”.
This August sees two of the organisations making their way to the Edinburgh Fringe. Edinburgh College is delighted to host them for a Taiko and Kabuki workshop at our Milton Campus on 7th August, and looks forward to welcoming them to our country and city.