School Shows
Japanese Music demonstrations & Story Telling
Anne Norman performs in schools throughout Australia as a soloist and in combination with Toshi Sakamoto presenting shows which introduce Australian children of all ages to Japanese music and culture. Her work in schools incorporates Japanese language, shakuhachi and other Japanese instruments.
Anne has performed in schools through Nexus Arts in every state and territory of Australia since 1997. She has also assisted many schools to develop their own bilingual musicals and productions.
NEXUS ARTS
PO Box 1009 Elsternwick, VIC, 3185
Ph 03 9528 3416 Fax 03 9523 6866
Freecall 1800 675 897 for country/ interstate schools.
Email:
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Anne tours nation-wide with four shows for schools:
KASA JIZO and the Wonderful Hat Song
Anne is an engaging raconteur, presenting a hands-on, interactive performance of her re-write of an old Japanese folk tale. Anne presents history, Japanese language and personal anecdotes and then launches into a quirky narration in rhyming English couplets with scattered Japanese vocab. The tale is supported by projections of photos and children’s drawings. Students sing, dance and play traditional Japanese instruments in accompaniment to this heart-warming tale of two children unexpectedly spending new year with an old couple they had never met before.
"Thanks for the great performances today! I got a lot of positive comments from students... Your shakuhachi piece was fantastic. I wish I could forget about the students and listen to your shakuhachi for hours..." Atsuya Kotoda, Pacific Pines, QLD.
"...an aural delight! Anne's performance embodies all that makes communication über-engaging. Most of our kids may never have experienced this art of story telling. Beautiful." Nulsen Primary School, WA.
“Great presenter / storyteller / musician! Exposure to Japanese culture, language, food, music etc. Very worthwhile! Entertaining! Children were engaged throughout the whole performance.” St Marks
“Learnt and love the song – it’s a mainstay of our Japanese language lessons now! Fantastic – kids were thoroughly engaged and interested.” Willaura PS
“Student involvement was terrific and the simple sound effects were very effective. The use of children’s drawings was great too. I thought it was a lovely story.” St Marks 8-10 years
“A great session presented in a fun and very informative fashion. Students displayed enthusiasm, listened intently and participated well. They got a lot out of this session. Anne kept the students’ attention and enabled them all to participate in one way or another! How Anne can present this to group after group without showing lack of energy or enthusiasm - I don’t know! I would like to have a small part of that! Excellent.” Brighton Beach Priary School, Vic. Grade 6 
"Many thanks for your performances last week... Many students were heard attempting to incorporate the japanese words in their conversations during the days following the sessions!" St Mary's College, Seymour, P-6 with no LOTE or Japanese program at the school.
Suitability: Prep to 7 for mixed age groups - the little ones bring wonder to the show, and the older ones bring skills... a magic combo! If you can, please thoroughly mix the ages in the audience. Lots more fun that way!
Audience Size: min 100 - max 180 students per session. (Minimum booking of 2 sessions per school.)
Cost: $5.50 per head + GST
Duration: 60 minutes each session (allow a little extra for extended questions)
O-Musubi Kororin - Rice ball tumble tumbling
An adventure Fairy Tale with a kind old man, treasure, singing mice, greed and a mystery ending...
"The children were totally engaged, loved playing the instruments and the active participation. They were delighted with the story line and were able to retell the story very well and write their own interesting endings." Edithvale Primary School, Vic.
"This amazing, interactive performance had the students completely engrossed. Anne's creativity, musical ability and Japanese language skills are outstanding." Greenmount PS
"Action packed with many "hands on" experiences for the students. A thoroughly professional and exciting learning experience." Living Waters Lutheran College, WA.
See full review.
Suitability: Prep to 7 for mixed age groups (not lower levels only). The little ones bring wonder to the show, and the older ones bring skills... a magic combo! The music making that results with older kids present is much more satisfying. The little ones feel thoroughly empowered by being supported by the older students' skills, and the older students get a lot more joy from sharing the fun with the younger ones.
Audience Size: min 100 - max 180 students per session. (Minimum booking of 2 sessions per school.)
Cost: $5.50 per head + GST
Duration: 60 minutes each session
TAIKO Drums and Flutes of Japan
What is the sound of one hand clapping? NOTHING LIKE THIS!!
This highly energetic, visually exciting and entertaining Japanese music performance incorporates performance and audience participation to give students a greater understanding of Japan, both culturally and historically. Instruments include shakuhachi and yokobue (flutes), taiko (drums of various sizes) and a variety of other percussion instruments. Students join in the drumming and songs and have a go at festival dancing. Japanese language can be included for schools who teach Japanese.
A fast moving, loud and humorous show, involving student participation, jointly presented by Anne Norman and Toshi Sakamoto. Toshinori is a master TAIKO drummer. He founded RINDO DAIKO in Kyushu as well as several Taiko teams in Melbourne since settling here in '95. He performs regularly in Festivals and schools throughout Australia and Japan.
"Thank you for the professional, entertaining and educational performance! I enjoyed it very much and so did the rest of the school. An absolute pleasure!" Lilli Torelli, Applecross Primary, WA.
"Wonderful, the students were enthralled." CCEGGS, Vic.
"Very impressed - a great opportunity for an activity crossing curriculum boundaries." MacKillop Catholic College, ACT
"Excellent, informative and interactive; the students were fascinated." St Clare's College, ACT
"Dear Toshi and Anne, It was very exciting to see and hear the Japanese instruments being played, and your traditional costumes looked cool. I liked it when you played cymbal tennis. It was really peaceful when I closed my eyes and Anne played the shakuhachi, and when you walked around me it felt magic, like a calm waterfall. I liked when you put your arms up really high and brought them down and banged the big taiko, your taiko drumming was awesome! It was funny when you got four teachers on stage to dance and play the taiko drums! I liked the fishing song, how we chanted different words. And last of all, the best part was when you got my classmates on stage. We all learnt a lot and had heaps of fun. I can't wait until you come back." comments from year 5 students at Surrey Downs Primary School in South Australia, 2011.
"Unbelievable, a fantastic show that gave me 'goosebumps'. A show not to be missed." St Joan of Arc Primary School, SA
Min. Audience: 140 students
Cost: $5.50 per head + GST
Suitability: Prep - Yr 12
Duration: 50 minutes
Japanese Music Show
An interactive presentation with hands on demonstrations of Japanese Musical Instruments
including KOTO, SHAKUHACHI, TAIKO and SMALL PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS.
Hands on... energetic... infectious. Anne shares her enthusiasm for Japanese music, language & culture in a fun and highly engaging presentation. Students come away fired up about music, with a greater understanding of Japan, both culturally and historically. Instruments included in Anne's presentation are: shakuhachi (end blown bamboo flute), koto (13 string zither), fue (flute), taiko (drum) and various small percussion.
"Great!" Belair School
"THANK YOU for such an entertaining and interesting presentation" Toorak College, Vic.
"Excellent" Macarthur st Primary School, Ballarat, Vic.