Instrumental Teaching
The British School in Tokyo encourages students of all ages to be actively involved in developing their musical talents and interests and we believe that every student would benefit from, and has the right to receive quality instrumental music lessons. These lessons are provided through the school’s peripatetic instrumental music programme, for students from Year 1 upwards.Please refer to the Peripatetic Instrumental Music Handbook for full details of the Instrumental Music Program at BST.
To arrange instrumental music lessons for your child please contact the instrumental teacher of your choice directly to enrol for lessons. The peripatetic instrumental teachers have been interviewed by the BST Music Department and are considered appropriately qualified and experienced to work at the school.
Lesson schedules are determined by individual peripatetic instrumental teachers in consultation with the PA to the Head of Primary School and BST Music staff.
SHIBUYA CAMPUS Lessons in Shibuya occur on weekdays before school and resume after curriculum lessons finish. There are a limited number of lunchtime lesson times available. Due to space restrictions at Shibuya, we are not able to accept music lesson bookings for children in Nursery and Reception; however, it is possible for lessons to be taught in a student’s home (by a mutual, independent arrangement between the instrumental teacher and parents).
SHOWA CAMPUS Lessons in Showa for students in Years 4 - 9 take place during the school day as part of the rotational instrumental scheme. In the rotational scheme, lessons are scheduled on the same day each week but with the lesson time being rotated at least one half-hour forwards each week. Lessons are scheduled to ensure that no child will miss the same class lesson more than twice within the same term.
Students in Years 10 -13 are given priority for booking lessons before school, after school and at lunchtime. Longer lessons (45mins/60mins) are approved for students in Years 10-13 only. This is subject to teacher approval and room availability.
Peripatetic Instrumental Music Teaching Staff 2011-2012
Tim Carter – Clarinet, Oboe & Saxophone
Alberto Garcia – Guitar Instrumental Teacher
Kayuri Hamada – Piano
Jonathan Hammill – All Brass (Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn)
Christopher Hardy – Drums, Percussion & Hand Drums
Christopher Koh – Violin
Ashton Moore – Vocal Teacher
Derek Short – Bass Guitar & Double Bass
Sean Tait – Piano
Alla Takemura – Violin
Madoka Tochigi – Flute & Piano
Ryoko Toriyabe – Flute
Yuriko Yamaguchi – Cello & Piano
Tim Carter
Clarinet, Oboe & Saxophone Peripatetic Instrumental Teacher
Tim Carter has performed throughout America, Europe, and Asia as an orchestral, chamber, and solo clarinet player. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from The Juilliard School, and his Master of the Arts degree from The Juilliard School & City University of New York. Previously, he served as Principal Clarinettist of the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, and has also collaborated with The New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and The Vienna Philharmonic.
As a solo clarinettist, he was awarded the silver medal at Japan’s Kanda International Music Competition in 2007 and Germany’s Freiburg International Music Competition in 2009. In Japan, he is active as a teacher and performer of pop, jazz, and classical music. His major teachers were Charles Neidich, Yehuda Gilad, and Ayako Oshima.
Telephone Number: 080-4117-1441
Email Address: TimothyWildCarter@gmail.com
Alberto Garcia
Guitar Instrumental Teacher
Alberto Garcia graduated in Piano and Music Theory from the Conservatory of Music in Spain in 1984 and went on to achieve the Yamaha Electone Certificate from the Colegio Hispano Ingles in Spain. He later went on to study Contemporary Harmony and Theory, Jazz guitar and Jazz ensemble at the Guillermo Gonzalez Music School in Tenerife, Spain. He finally graduated from the Musicians Institute Hollywood in Los Angeles where he studied under Scott Henderson, Carl Verheyen, Allen Hind, Dean Brown, Ross Bolton and Jean Marc Belkadi. Following his graduation, he made an additional Encore Program at MI and studied with Rick Zunigar.
As a session player, he performed exclusively during his stay in California and accumulated experience in different genres such as rock, pop, jazz, blues and funk. Alberto is now the Head of the Guitar Department at LiveJam Music School in Tokyo and works with various performing bands and on various projects in Tokyo.
Telephone Number: 090-6522-5932
Email Address: betogex@hotmail.com
Kayuri Hamada
Piano Instrumental Teacher
Kayuri Hamada graduated from Keio University and went on to study at the Juilliard School in New York with Professor Gorodnitzki and later at the Guild Hall School of Music with James Gibb. She has 30 years’ experience as a piano tutor and holds a licence from the Royal School of Music.
Telephone Number: 090-3910-0336
Email Address: kayuripiano@nifty.com
Christopher Hardy
Drums, Percussion and Hand Drums Instrumental Teacher
Christopher Hardy is a highly acclaimed percussionist, composer and educator. Chris has a background in Western percussion from the University of Michigan and is a hand drum specialist whose primary focus is on Middle Eastern, North African, West African, Brazilian and Latin percussion.
In addition to leading his own groups and co-founding Tatopani, the Tokyo-based world music group, Chris has performed and recorded with such diverse artists as Hamza El Din, John Neptune, Kazumi Watanabe, Yosuke Yamashita, Hidetaro Honjo (shamisen), Eitetsu Hayashi (taiko), Hideo Kanze (Noh performer), Kim Duk-Soo (Samul Nori), Onoe Shoroku (Kabuki), Shuntaro Tanikawa (poet), Kazutoki Umezu, Sizzle Ohtaka, Kato Kazuhiko, A.I., Kaleb James, Anthony Bailey, Ted Piltzecker, El Zafete.
Chris has performed at the Edinburgh Festival and at major music festivals in Japan, as well as actively performing throughout Europe, Asia, North Africa, South America, Australia and the United States. Most recently, he performed with the resident Cirque du Soleil show, "Zed" and served as musical ensemble director for the Tokyo performances of the "O Vertigo" dance troupe (Canada). Chris can be heard on the Victor, JVC, Columbia, Denon, Polydor, EMI, Equilibrium and Sony labels.
Telephone Number: 090 4226 5257
Email Address: chris@christopherhardymusic.com
Jonathan Hammill
Brass Instrumental Teacher
Jonathan Hammill graduated from the Juilliard School in New York. His primary teachers include Carolyn Wahl, Julie Landsman and Dale Clevenger. He attended the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, three times between 1999 and 2001. In 1999, he was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and has played with orchestras such as the Chicago, London, New Jersey, NHK Symphony Orchestras and the Florida Orchestra. In 2001, he joined the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra as principal horn and he still holds this post today.
He teaches at Dolce Music Academy in Tokyo and Elisabeth University of Music in Hiroshima. He is also a member of the Tsunobue Horn Ensemble.
Telephone Number: 090 9327 7958
Email Address: hammillicious@gmail.com
Christopher Koh
Violin Peripatetic Instrumental Teacher
Chris Koh has been teaching professionally since 1994 and has experience working with all age groups and levels at independent and Local Education Authority schools and music centres in the UK. Chris completed his postgraduate violin studies with Professor Krysztof Jakowicz at the F. Chopin Academy of Music in Poland. He also studied with Ezsta Boda-Katone (Trinity College), Jean Brier (Huddersfied University) and Oliver Butterworth at the Centre for Young Musicians, Pimlico, UK.
As a professional freelance musician, Chris has worked for various classical opera and orchestral chamber and contemporary music theatre companies in the UK. He was also a principal member of the Carl Rosa Opera Company, Grange Park Opera and has performed solo for several touring companies and accompanied various artists in England.
Telephone Number: 080-6753-7390
Email Address: koharts@gmail.com
Ashton Moore
Vocal Teacher
Ashton Moore graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Letters from Michigan State University and went on to gain his Masters in Jazz Studies, studying with Sunny Wilkinson, Professor of Jazz Voice at Michigan State University. He has taken part in master classes with The Manhattan Transfer, Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves and Mark Murphy. In addition, Ashton has performed with jazz greats such as Jon Hendricks, Rodney Whittaker, Wycliffe Gordon, Cyrus Chestnut and Christian McBride. In October 2008, he was asked to perform the national anthem for President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign trail in Lansing, MI.
In October 2010, he was invited to participate in the Thelonious Monk competition to sing for jazz greats such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Al Jarreau, Kurt Elling and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Living in Japan, he has had the opportunity to record and perform with Ken Hirai. Ashton is currently working in Tokyo as a singer, vocal instructor and songwriter.
Telephone Number: 080-1198-4537
Email Address: ashtonsings@gmail.com
Derek Short
Bass Guitar & Double Bass Instrumental Teacher
Derek Short has an extensive background as a professional musician in a variety of genres such as rock, jazz, pop and soul. He studied Music Theory and Harmony classes at Kennedy King College in Chicago and a Jazz Studies program at American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Primarily a bass guitarist, he has in addition taught and worked professionally as a saxophonist and acoustic bassist in New York, Egypt, Tunisia, England, Germany, Holland and Japan.
He has led many bands on both instruments and composes, arranges and produces music. He has independently released 4 cds as a leader and has produced music for artists, fashion shows and commercials.
Telephone Number: 090-9205-4937
Email Address: derek@creativethinking.co.jp
Sean Tait
Piano Instrumental Teacher
Sean Tait gained his Associate of Music Australia in pianoforte whilst in High School and went on to gain his Bachelor of Contemporary Music (piano and saxophone) in 2002 from Southern Cross University and a Bachelor of Business /Bachelor of Arts in 2001 from Central Queensland University.
As a performer Sean was recently Associate Musical Director for “Cats” Thailand, Macau, China, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Philippines and Taiwan Tours presented by The Really Useful Group. While in Japan he has performed with many local and touring artists. He has taught piano/keyboard, composition, and ensemble at Muse Music Academy Yoyogi, Tokyo for 2 1/2 years, and has taught piano privately since 1994 (both in Australia and Japan). Sean has been with BST as a piano teacher since 2007.
Telephone Number: 090-6509-7687
Email Address: seanmtait@gmail.com
Alla Takemura
Violin & Viola Instrumental Teacher
Alla Takemura graduated from the Belarusian State Conservatoire with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Violin Performance under the tutelage of Professor Nickolay Bratennikov, as well as taking part in the master classes at the Moscow State Conservatoire with Professors Boris Belenki and Maia Glezarova. After graduating, she combined her work as a music and sound director for the National TV Company with teaching and performing.
She has performed at the Royal College of Music and St John’s Cathedral and participated in the Starling-DeLay Symposium on Violin Studies at the Julliard School of Music in New York. She is a soloist and a music director with the Zion String Ensemble specializing in Baroque and church music and has been teaching the violin and viola at BST since 2004.
Telephone Number: 080-6635-8732
Email Address: AllaTakemura1@gmail.com
Madoka Tochigi
Piano & Flute Instrumental Teacher
Madoka Tochigi received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Royal Academy of Music in the UK and has qualifications from Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy in the UK, the Toho School of Music, Japan and the LRAM certificate (Royal Academy of Music). She has been very active as a soloist, orchestral player and teacher and has given recitals in many places in the world including Japan, USA, Switzerland, Australia, Italy and Canada.
She has been awarded prizes at many prestigious competitions and was selected as Best Flautist at the Symphony Orchestra Academy of Pacific in Canada in 2005 and performed with the Symphony Opera Orchestra of the Pacific, in Canada, as principal flautist. After gaining a BMus(RAM) for an outstanding Final Recital, she was invited to play at the Japanese Embassy in England in 2008. She has been teaching at BST since.
Telephone Number: 090-5664-3241
Email Address: Madoka_tochigi@yahoo.co.jp
Ryoko Toriyabe
Flute Instrumental Teacher
Ryoko Toriyabe graduated from the Nihon University College of Art and went on to continue her studies in jazz music and improvisation at The Music College Mesar Haus in Tokyo. Forming part of the Kuhlua Flute Trio who won first prize at the Japan Flute Convention ensemble competition in 1985, they also went on to release two albums “I Tre Virtuosi” and “Flutes en Vacances”.
Over the course of the past 25 years, Ryoko has been active in performing not only classical music, but also jazz, chanson, musical and Japanese pop. She has been performing Baroque and classical music at the Furansu-sha Suigyoku restaurant since 1993 and has been teaching the flute at the music school studio BEATec since 2001, and at BST since 2006.
Telephone Number: 090-7731-4074
Email Address: bouquetdestons.ryoko.gochiya@gmail.com
Yuriko Yamaguchi
Cello & Piano Instrumental Teacher
Yuriko has played the piano and cello under various tutors in Tokyo, New York and London, including Timothy Barratt (piano) and Myrtle Bruce-Mitford (cello). She received a music scholarship from Sydenham High School in London, where she had the opportunity to play in many music groups from orchestras to string ensembles and jazz bands.
In addition, she played with the Dulwich Youth Orchestra every year, as well as competing in the Beckenham Festival, at which she was awarded the Helen Oliver Cup in piano playing. Upon her return to Tokyo, she started teaching the cello to juniors in the Toho Girls Orchestra, where she had previously played for three years during middle school and high school. She continues to perform to date and also writes her own music with friends in the UK. She is currently studying Art History at Sophia University’s Graduate Programme in Global Studies.
Telephone Number: 080-5899-5542
Email Address: yo.waiwai@gmail.com
