Welcome to APA home page

APA　(Amateur Music Player’s Association, Japan (APA), was established in 1974. APA is nationwide network which consists of over 1000 amateur musicians in Japan. 650menbers are in Metropolitan area and 350members are at Kansai area and less than 100 members are in other area in Japan.

1．Regular Ensemble Meeting

2．Autumn Music Festival is held at the foot of Mt. Fuji

3．Three months in Tokyo

1．Regular Ensemble Meeting

in Metropolitan area 　Nagoya area and Kansai area

When you want to join, you are expected to contact with each contact person;

<Metropolitan area >remarks: “&” mark in e-mail address should be changed to “@” mark.

Name	Regular date	Place	Contact person
1. Seibu line Meeting	2nd Sun.13-17pm	Ohizumi-Gakuen	Mr. Hideki Isochi h-isochi&s6.dion.ne.jp
2. Saitama Meeting	3rd Sat or Sun 13-17pm	Urawa	Mr. Kuniyuki Goto goto-k&rc5.so-net.ne.jp
3. Saitama appoint- ment Meeting	4th Sunday 13-17pm	Yono-Honcho(JR)	Mr. Osam Chuma Equinsam&oak.ocn.ne.jp
4. Den-en Toshi Meeting	3rd or 4th Sun 13-17pm	Aobadai(Tokyu line)	Mr. Jun Miyatake usu-takejun&nifty.com
5. Toyoko Line Meting	final Sat13-21pm	Okurayama(Tokyu line)	Mr.Mitsutoshi Tanaka Tanakam&mva.biglobe.ne.jp
6. Shonan Meeting	2nd or 3rd Sat 13-17pm	Ofuna (JR)	Mr. Shinji Matsumoto shinji.matu&abeam.ocn.ne.jp
7. Kashiwa Meeting	3rd Sun 13-18pm	Shin-kashiwa(Tobu line)	Mr. Nobuo Usuda clara-vc&ka8.koalanet.ne.jp
8. CD grade Meeting	Holiday or Sun 13-18	APA club room (Shinjuku)	Mr, Shu Itoh l6ypum2zafq9&yahoo.co.jp
9. Tuesday Meeting	Every Tue 13-17pm	ditto	Ms. Makiko Miyake makiko-m&rc4.so-net.ne.jp
10 Flute Meting	1st Sun 13-18pm	ditto	Mr. Susumu Mabuchi bh288m&bma.biglobe.ne.jp
11 Piacere Meeting	2nd Sat 13-18pm	ditto	Mr. Mamoru Tsurusaki Mtsurusaki&kamos.co.jp
12 String Quartet M	3rd Sat 13-17pm	ditto	Mr. Shiro Kikuchi Shirou&mxj.mesh.ne.jp
<Nagoya area>
13. Nagoya weekend Meeting	Holiday or Sat	Nakamura Kouen (Higashiyama line)	Ms. Maki Mito Kobamaki&mb3.suisui.ne.jp
14 Nagoya Tuesday Meeting	Tuesday9am-16:30	Shinsakae-machi (Higashiyama line)	Ms. Maki Mito Kobamaki&mb3.suisui.ne.jp
<Kansai area>
15 Shukugawa weekday strings	3rd Tue 13-17pm	Shukugawa(Hankyu line)	Ms. Tokiko Inoue
16 Takatsuki Meeting	2nd Sun 13-	Takatsuki	Mr. Kazuo Nobiki
17 Kyoto Arashiyama Meeting	2nd Tue 11am-17pm	Matsuo(Hankyu Arashiyama line)	Mr. H.A.Shapiro
18 Introduction Meeting	1st Sun	Juso(Hankyu line)	Mr. Yohei Yamada yohei-vc&violet.plala.or.jp
19 Keihan Meeting	Sun (4 times a year)	Hirakata(Keihan line)	Mr. Kaoru Tsujimoto kaoru@sound-post.com

Domestic amateur musicians are expected to register at entrance fee 2000JPY
If you want more information on the APA activities
please contact;
Mr. Masao & Mrs. Fumiko Nagata e-mail: mfnagata@md.neweb.ne.jp
APA office: e-mail: apa@zb3.so-net.ne.jp

2．Autumn Music Festival is held at the foot of Mt. Fuji

One of the most important annual events of APA is the Autumn Music Festival held on the beautiful lakeside at the foot of Mt. Fuji. It is indeed a honor of for us to extend you an invitation to join us for the Autumn wokshop to be held there for 4 days on Oct,17th ? 20th,2008.

At the Autumn camp, we live and play music in an informal family atmosphere. Evening activities in addition to chamber music playing, will include a western style of welcome barbecue party and . We do hope you will come and enjoy both music and association with APA friends on the picturesque lakeside.

Kawaguchi-ko is the second largest of Fuji Five Lakes. It is a favorite Summer resort. The scenic beauty of the lake is enhanced by the small well wooded islets. Lake Kawaguchi-ko is also noted for the fine view of Mt. Fuji from its North shore where the majestic peak may be viewed.

If you want more information on the APA Autumn camp at Kawaguchi-ko 2008
please contact;
Mr. Masao & Mrs. Fumiko Nagata e-mail: mfnagata@md.neweb.ne.jp
APA office: e-mail: apa@zb3.so-net.ne.jp

APA Autumn Music Festival at Lake Kawaguchi　(10Jan2008 Flash News)

[DATE]
October 17 (Fri)13:00to20(Mon)11:00, 2008

[PLACE]
Sunnide Village
Oishi, Kawaguchiko-Machi, Minami Tsuru-Gun, Yamanashi-Ken, Japan
Phone +81-555-76-6004
URL: http://www.sunnide.com/index02.html

[SPONSOR]
Amateur Music Players’ Association, Japan(APA)
2-6-16-201, Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0021,Japan
URL http://www.apa-music.org/

[SUPPORTER]
Japan Music Foundation(Under application to support)
URL: http://www.nmf.or.jp/

TRANSPORTATION

From Tokyo to Kawaguchiko Station
- A) Car a) Chuo Jidosha Do or b) Tomei Kosoku Do
- B) Train 1) Chuo-Line Shinjuku to Otsuki (1.5h 1280yen) and then Fuji Kyuko Line Otsuki to Kawaguchiko (1.0h, 1110yen)
- C) Expressway Bus (2h､1700yen)Shinjyuku Bus terminal to kawaguchiko Station
From Kawaguchiko Station to Sunnide Village
- a) Bus 350yen
- b) Taxi 200yen

We will pick you up at 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 12t(Fri) near Ticket collectors at Nishi-Guchi(West gate, not central west gate) of JR Shinjuku Station. (Tentative information) We will be waiting for you there carrying a small flag with characteristics of APA and picture of a violin on it. Please meet us there.

Daily Schedule

Oct 17th (Fri)
12:30	Reception desk opens
13:00	Orientation
14:00-16:00	1st session
16:00-18:00	2nd session
18:00-19:30	Welcome party(Garden Barbecue)
20:00-22:00	3rd session (meeting with each instrument, Violin,Viola,Cello,Flute)
Oct 18th(Sat)
8:00-9:00	Breakfast on Buffet style at dinning hall
10:00-12:00	Ensemble with coach or Yoyaku Gasso (suggested ensemble)
12:00-13:00	Lunch
13:00-15:00	Ensemble with coach or Yoyakyu Gasso(suggested ensesmble)
15:00-17:00	ditto
18:00-21:00	Reception party with many entertainment music
Oct 19th(Sun)
8:00- 9:00	breakfast
9:00-11:00	Ensemble with coach or Yoyaku Gasso (suggested ensemble)
11:00-14:00	ditto ( Lunch time break 12:00-13:00)
14:00-17:00	Concert ( Gust professional and guest and participant combination groups)
18:00-19:00	Dinner at dining hall
19:00-21:00	Yoyaku Gasso
Oct 20th(Mon)
8:00- 9:00	Breakfast
9:00-11:00	Yoyaku Gasso
	Breakup

Main Program

You can previously make a request for two of your favorite music you would like to perform.
You can also apply reserved music with coach such as ;
TBD before July
You may be assigned to play other member’s favorite music also.
Guest professional musicians will hold a concert for us and local people at the camp on Sunday afternoon 19th Oct. They will not only coach us at our organized ensemble playing but also play with us.

ROOM
No single rooms, 2-6 person rooms only. Some rooms are equipped with beds but some rooms are Tatami, so you can request your favorite. Every rooms are equipped with rest room with bath and shower.

DINING
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served at a restaurant at the camp.

PARTICIOPATION FEE:
Management fee 13000 yen
Rooms and meals 33500 yen
Some extra fee with coaches 5000-9000yen
10000yen deposit is requested for application.

SUGGESTIONS

When you have arrived at Sunnide Village, Please go to the reception desk to finish your participation procedures. Pay participation fees in cash (credit cards unacceptable) and receive necessary papers, including meal coupons.
Bring your own musical instrument(s) and music stand. Attach your name tag to the stand.
You will be a group leader of your-requested music. The group leader is supposed to prepare all music parts of the number requested.
The camp is a large area. You will have to walk among many rooms. Put on casual shoes and attires.
Food, except for breakfast and get-acquainted party, will be served at the restaurant of hotel.
Breakfast 8:00- 9:00
Lunch 12:00-13:00
Dinner 18:00-19:00
After checking out on 20th Oct all participants are requested to move to the room HIBIKI.
For your information Sunday night participants are very small number (some 15person)
because many participants should back to their business next day.

Application Form to Autumn Music Festival

If you are going to join the APA Autumn Music Festival, please return this form before August 15th 2008, to Amateur Music Players’ Association, Japan 2-6-16-201, Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0021,JAPAN
e-mail is also available : apa@zb3.so-net.ne.jp
Then you will receive further information around the beginning of September.

Name(s)

Address

(Phone)

(e-mail)

Occupation

Instrument(s)

Playing abilityA:excellentB:goodC:fairP: professional

Sight reading abilityA:excellentB:goodC:fair

Your request number at APA Autumn Festival

Composer() Number ()your part()

How long are you going to satay at the Festival ?

Which is your choice for your room?BedTatamiNo choice

Would you like pick up at Shinjuku Station ?

How many days are you going to stay in Japan ?

From() to()

Other comments

If you can not join the APA Autumn Festival this year
Please return this form before 31st August to APA,Japan for our information

Name

Address

Occupation

Instrument(s)

Playing abilityA:excellentB:goodC:fairP: professional

Sight reading abilityA:excellentB:goodC:fair

Although I cannot join this Autumn festival this year , I think I would like to participate in it next year or in the future,YesNo

I also would like to join APA’s annual general nationwide workshop in Tokyo in future if I have a chance to go to Japan
Yes No

３．Three months in Tokyo

Impressions from an econometrician, amateur cellist

Jan R. Magnus（May 2007）

I am a professor of econometrics (a field combining economics, mathematics, and statistics) from The Netherlands, and I was invited at the Department of Economics of the University of Tokyo for a three-months visit: February-April 2007. Before setting out to Tokyo I wrote to a few people of the Amateur Chamber Music Players (ACMP) of which I am a member. This is a non-profit association that facilitates informal playing by people of all nationalities, usually of very good level. There are over 5,000 members worldwide and about forty or so in Japan. Several of the ACPM members introduced me to APA and their local activities.

The result has been amazing. I have been invited to play with groups in Okurayama (twice), Nerima, and Saitama, and I also played privately with smaller groups at people’s homes.

I did not bring my cello, but the organizers always provided one, mostly of very good quality. At the first meeting in Okurayama we played the Schubert quintet, Brahms first sextet and the Mendelssohn octet. The Japanese don’t get tired quickly! They just continue to play for many hours. I was quite tired after a few hours, also because the chairs are designed for Japanese players and therefore much too low for me, which is a problem when you play the cello. Afterwards we had dinner with a few people in a restaurant close by. I had the most fantastic time.

With the Nerima group we played Mozart KV458, Mozart flute quartet, and Brahms first sextet, and with the Saitama group Mozart’s clarinet quintet and (again) the Brahms sextet. The atmosphere is always very friendly. There are some players who are excellent musicians, but there are also some not so good players or players who used to be good when they were a bit younger. But everybody plays together in a most friendly and supportive atmosphere, and afterwards goes out to drink and eat. At my second visit to Okurayama, we played the Mendelssohn octet again and also the Shostakovich piano trio (which I had fortunately studied in Holland).

I was particularly pleased to be invited several times at people’s homes. The hosts were always so polite to choose pieces with interesting cello parts, such as Mozart KV 575, and the second Borodin quartet. After my wife arrived, (who plays the violin) we played twice in a home environment, which made her stay much more memorable.

My stay in Tokyo was my first visit to Japan, and I had a very interesting time, seeing and learning a lot about Japan. Music has been an important element in my visit to Tokyo. It has made me feel at home. Musicians are pretty much the same everywhere, and I can now count till four in Japanese. I wondered before whether music making would be different in Tokyo and in Amsterdam. Not much different, I think, except perhaps that I found the discipline to be very high in the groups I have played with. They like to take fast movements not too fast, and then they stick to this tempo all through the movement, also in the easier passages!