The Hits Just Keep On Coming

If nothing else, I need to keep posting these from time to time as a reality check for my own teaching. When I taught elementary school I was quite proud that most of my students could play all of their major scales. Hm.

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This is the fourth or fifth Japanese elementary band or pre-school marching band I've seen posted recently. What most people don't realize is that there are MAJOR cultural differences that make performance like this possible from such young students. Students in Japan are identified as early as possible to identify what their aptitudes are, and then they are tracked into instruction that builds those aptitudes - in many cases whether the child is interested in that aptitude or not. Japan also has a very different view of the value of education than Americans do.
— thomasjwest
We hosted a high school group years ago, so I'm well aware. Still, all things considered I think we can (and should) ask ourselves if our expectations here in the states are lower than what they could be. Perhaps Japan's approach is too narrow, but it's not hard to make a case that our approach (students partaking in every sport/activity available, and doing them all poorly) is too broad.  
If nothing else, it's good to know what is going on across the globe. No one should be surprised when the Japanese are winning all the (remaining) orchestra jobs over the next decade.  

— Brian Wis