[NTT East Corporation] “NHK Symphony Orchestra x NTT East Group Music Education Program” held in Miyagi Prefecture
NTT East Corporation Press Release: August 29, 2025 “NHK Symphony Orchestra x NTT East Group Music Education Program” held in Miyagi Prefecture ~Providing junior and senior high school students with opportunities to experience the joy of music and grow through on-site lessons, rehearsal observations, online reviews, and more~ ■NTT East Corporation (President and CEO: Naoki Shibuya, hereinafter “NTT East”) and NTT ArtTechnology Corporation (President and CEO: Manabu Kunieda, hereinafter “NTT ArtTechnology”) have announced that they have jointly established the NHK Symphony Orchestra (President and CEO: Hiroyuki Nakano, hereinafter “NHK”), a public interest incorporated foundation. Since last year, we have been collaborating with the NHK Symphony Orchestra (hereinafter referred to as “NHK Symphony Orchestra”) to develop a music education program for junior and senior high school students. ■This year, we will be hosting rehearsal observations, on-site lessons, and online reviews for Tomiya High School in Miyagi Prefecture and Sendai Daiichi High School in Miyagi Prefecture. ■On August 22nd, students were invited to observe a rehearsal for the NHK Symphony Orchestra’s Sendai concert*1. From September onwards, members of the NHK Symphony Orchestra are scheduled to provide on-site lessons and online reviews for both schools. (※1) NHK Symphony Orchestra Concert Sendai Performance
https://www.nhkso.or.jp/concert/20250822.html?pdate=20250822
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/98811/1210/98811-1210-2b6e512dc4738ab09411ec1432faeec6-408×243.png
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/98811/1210/98811-1210-f6825d3405eff23117cb98ca1f8f2abc-347×257.png 1. Background and purpose NTT East and the NHK Symphony Orchestra have held 180 concerts since April 1985, based on the concept of “music as communication.” We believe that these activities have contributed to the realization of a spiritually enriched society through encounters and interactions with music. Furthermore, NTT East is sympathetic to the NHK Symphony Orchestra’s various social contribution activities, such as concerts for children, the elderly, and disaster-affected residents. In April 2024, NTT East became a special supporter of the NHK Symphony Orchestra, aiming to further create value through collaboration in the music field. NTT ArtTechnology aims to revitalize local communities by connecting them with the world through the digital preservation and utilization of cultural arts. In the music field, we have previously held real-time remote concerts*2 and satellite streaming performances*3 using IOWN. Against this
background, NTT East and NTT ArtTechnology, in cooperation with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, decided to develop a music education program for junior and senior high school students. Last year, the first program was held for approximately 70 students from two junior high schools in Fukushima City*4. By implementing a music education program that allows local students to experience the joy of music and encourages them to improve their own performance skills, we aim to create a local recycling-oriented society through music. (※2) “Concert of the Future II,” a real-time remote concert connecting Tokyo, Osaka, Kanagawa, and Chiba using IOWN APN-related technology, was held. https://www.ntt-arttechnology.com/news/20221222release.pdf (※3) The 180th NTT East NHK Symphony Orchestra Concert will be streamed via satellite at Hokusai Hall in Obuse Town on November 2nd. -Providing a highly immersive music listening experience through high-quality audio streaming and a highly flexible music listening experience through multi-angle streaming-
https://www.ntt-arttechnology.com/news/release20230915.pdf (※4) NHK Symphony Orchestra and NTT East Group collaborate to develop music education program ~Through on-site lessons and online reviews, we provide opportunities for local children to experience the joy of music and grow~
https://www.ntt-east.co.jp/release/detail/20240725_01.html 2. About this year’s music education program This year, students from the string ensemble of Tomiya High School in Miyagi Prefecture and the brass band of Sendai Daiichi High School in Miyagi Prefecture will be participating in the music education program. Through a three-step approach, the music education program aims to deepen students’ interest and understanding of music, solidify their learning, and allow them to experience the thrill of music through performances by the NHK Symphony Orchestra, leading to further growth in their learning. (1) Observing a rehearsal (already completed) Students were invited to a concert rehearsal and listened to the NHK Symphony Orchestra’s performance. In addition, we provided the opportunity to watch the performance via multi-angle streaming and song commentary using nwm “Mimispi”*5, open-ear earphones equipped with PSZ
(Personalized Sound Zone) technology. 1. Performance distribution using a multi-angle distribution system Students can use their tablet devices to enjoy “multi-angle streaming,” choosing from three different angles to watch the performance. There are three angles to choose from: • Conductor angle: Video focusing on the conductor’s facial expressions and baton movements • Right-hand angle: Footage focusing on the performers on the right-hand side of the stage. • Left-stage angle: Footage focusing on the performers on the left-hand side of the stage These angles allowed viewers to enjoy a truly immersive view of the performance from angles and distances that would be difficult to see during a regular performance. 2. Music Commentary by nwm “Mimispi” We asked up-and-coming young conductor Hiroe Yukawa to provide a commentary on the music. She talked about the highlights of the music, how the instruments were used, and even the interactions between the performers during rehearsals. By using the NWM “MimiSpi” earphones, which do not block the ears, visitors were able to enjoy the NHK Symphony Orchestra’s performance and Hiroe Yukawa’s commentary on the music at the same time, providing an appreciation experience that deepened their understanding and appreciation of the music. • Date and time: Friday, August 22, 2025 14:30-16:30 • Venue: Sendai Bank Hall Izumity 21 Main Hall • Commentator: Hiroe Yukawa (conductor)
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/98811/1210/98811-1210-6c2005d831a2123cda0396f3d9e7706b-694×520.jpg Watching the rehearsal
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/98811/1210/98811-1210-138d049a869ff3b54353ca3fbc7095ed-694×520.jpg Watching the rehearsal
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/98811/1210/98811-1210-9d560436f560294108b68e2454b14380-694×520.jpg Watch multi-angle streaming and song explanations on your learning device
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/98811/1210/98811-1210-967ad1350f911c456c96cc2490103040-635×476.jpg Song commentary by Yukawa
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/98811/1210/98811-1210-a48f9aad5a0940e4f0a3a35548522404-635×476.jpg Message from Mr. Yukawa to the students
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/98811/1210/98811-1210-c1d234918af91317fab1330a9de1edd5-635×476.jpg Message from Concertmaster Goko to the Students
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/98811/1210/98811-1210-0be2085532dac9dfc2fcf04cdd161a0f-1128×519.jpg Delivery screen • During Yukawa’s commentary, he mentioned that there would be a surprise in the piece, and I thoroughly enjoyed the changes in the melody and the improvisation. The beautiful bowing in the performance left a strong impression, and I’d like to learn more about bowing and how to add inflection to a piece during my on-site lesson next month. (Student, Tomiya High School, Miyagi Prefecture) • The explanations of the pieces helped me understand which notes to pay attention to during the performance and deepened my understanding of the pieces. There were also explanations of the conductor’s
instructions between songs, and I felt that they were conscious of expressing nuances and musical expression beyond what is written in the sheet music. (Miyagi Prefecture Sendai Daiichi High School student) (*5) nwm “Mimi Suspi” https://nwm.global/ (2) On-site lessons (planned for the future) Members of the NHK Symphony Orchestra will visit schools to provide instruction to students on their
performances. We have part lessons for each instrument, and ensemble lessons where we teach the whole club how to play. Part lessons aim to improve individual performance techniques, such as how to hold the instrument and how to make the sound resonate, while ensemble lessons aim to play harmonious music as a team. 1. Tomiya High School, Miyagi Prefecture • Date and time: Monday, September 8, 2025 • Participants: Miyagi Prefecture Tomiya High School String Ensemble Club members • Instructors: NHK Symphony Orchestra, Junior First Violinist Ryota Kuratomi, Acting Principal Violaist Shotaro Nakamura, Cellist Hiroya Ichi 2. Miyagi Prefecture Sendai Daiichi High School • Date and time: Monday, September 22, 2025 • Participants: Miyagi Prefecture Sendai Daiichi High School Brass Band Club members • Lecturer: N Symphony Orchestra, principal clarinet player Kei Ito, principal trumpet player Kazuaki Kikumoto
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/98811/1210/98811-1210-ec6312d94d4e43b51b18350175a14115-454×312.png Last year’s event (Fukushima City Shinobu Junior High School) Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/98811/1210/98811-1210-94c854f78352e5b9b27f7a034523cbaf-332×247.png Fukushima City Nobuo Junior High School
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/98811/1210/98811-1210-0f5816f1ae8a2b93004f474ceec3db2a-649×434.jpg Last year’s event (Fukushima Daiichi Junior High School, Fukushima City) (3) Online review (to be conducted in the future) Members of the NHK Symphony Orchestra will remotely review the students’ practice progress. Students will receive feedback on their performances, which will help them deepen their learning through relearning. • Timing: Scheduled to be implemented around fall 2025 • Lecturer: N-Kyo member 3. Future Prospects Leveraging the results of this initiative, we will expand music education programs to other regions, create musical experiences using new technology, and further contribute to regional revitalization. Copyright ©
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