FACILITIES

The Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra, Tokyo is a professional orchestra made up of music performance instructors. It is an organization established under the umbrella of Tokyo University of the Arts, and its history can be traced back to 1898, when it was first organized by Tokyo Music School, the predecessor of the present-day Faculty of Music.

The Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra, Tokyo holds a number of concerts every year through occasions such as the Regular Concerts in the spring and fall, the performance of orchestral works with chorus collaborating with the Department of Vocal Music, the joint concert with the Opera Society of the university, and the annual spring concert featuring graduates from the previous academic year (the top student from each department). Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 are annually performed in December. Furthermore, the orchestra tours around Japan to promote music culture across the country.

The center comprises the following research facilities: (1) Music Reference Room, which serves as a resource for both staff and students. The room contains reference books, journals and numerous recordings; (2) Listening Room, consists of a comprehensive selection of audio equipment; (3) Acoustics Laboratory, a research facility. Current projects include research into pitch and timbre of the voice and musical instruments, the acoustics of performance space and electronic acoustics; and (4) Koizumi Fumio Memorial Archives, which contains materials relating to the study of ethnomusicology. The archives houses the Koizumi collection of Asian and African musical instruments and a large selection of ethnomusicological reference sources and sound recordings.

Training Center for Foreign Languages and Diction has Japanese and non-Japanese teachers who specialize in languages, linguistics, literature and language education. The main functions of the center are:

1. Foreign language classes (English, German, French, Italian)
2. Individual tutoring
3. Research on languages and language education

This is a two-year non-degree course. Small number of students, admitted by entrance examination, are given individual instruction on their chosen instruments or musical genres, including composition, vocal music, piano, organ, string and wind instruments and percussion; traditional Japanese instruments such as shamisen, koto, and shakuhachi; and music of Noh theater and traditional Japanese dance. A certificate is awarded on successful completion of the course.

This high school is affiliated to the Faculty of Music. The school offers a rounded curriculum with an emphasis on music. Specialist music courses, taught mainly by the music faculty staff, include history and theory of music, and musical performance.