Jim Fritz

As teachers we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we did not actively try to better ourselves and improve our teaching abilities. One of the many ways to improve as a teacher is to try to learn how other countries and societies teach the same materials that we teach here in the United States. Through programs such as the Japan Fullbright Exchange teachers from across the country are able to experience in depth the methods and techniques of like minded educators in a society far removed from our own. Mr. Jim Fritz, band director at Decorah High School in northeast Iowa, recently returned from his own Japan Fullbright experience. Upon his return he wrote an article that was first published in the February 2006 issue of the Iowa Bandmaster . This article is reprinted here on MusicEdMagic with the permission of the author.

This is a multipage article. Use the navigation menu at the bottom of this page to view the entire essay.

At a summer 2003 Iowa Bandmasters Association summer board meeting, I sat next to Steve Stickney and Tony Garmoe at lunch. The two shared their experiences in something called, the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund. Both had been selected to participate in this program and eagerly exchanged experiences. Steve had just returned from Japan a couple weeks prior and his stories were still very fresh in his mind. Tony had gone several years prior but it was interesting to note his excitement about sharing his experiences with Steve and myself. After a delightful lunch and engaging stories between the two, they both encouraged me to apply for this opportunity. That following fall Steve wrote a very interesting piece for the Fall 2003 Iowa Bandmasters Magazine about his experiences in Japan. I read it with fascination and privately committed myself to applying following my tenure as IBA President.

A year later, I found myself embarking upon one of the most rewarding personal/professional opportunities I have attempted in many years.

The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund was established in 1996, on the 50th anniversary of the American J. William Fulbright Scholarship Program. The Fulbright Scholarship had provided hundreds of opportunities for Japanese students (called “Fulbrighters”) to study in the U.S. following World War II. The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund was established, by the government of Japan, as a “thank you” to the U.S. for allowing Japanese students to study in America as Fulbrighters. Each year, since 1996, the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund (JFMF) brings 600 American educators to Japan for an intensive 3 week immersion experience in their unique culture. The goal of the experience is to provide a cultural “bridge” between the two cultures through educators of both nations. It is hoped that the Japanese teachers can learn new techniques from their American counterparts and that Americans can have a greater understanding of the Japanese culture. There are 3 sessions throughout the year, each involving 200 K-12 U.S. teachers. These sessions occur in June, October and November. Each selected American educator (called a Japan Fulbright Memorial Fellow) is chosen following a rather extensive written application process. (see http://www.fulbrightmemorialfund.jp for information regarding the 2006 application) However, the most important part of the application is the “follow-on plan”. This follow-on plan formally states what each applicant intends to do, following their return to the U.S., to share their Japanese experience.

Jim Fritz

Finally, on June 12th, I flew from the Cedar Rapids airport to San Francisco for our stateside orientation. As we were one of the final groups to arrive, I walked into a hotel ballroom filled with 200 teachers. The tension and excitement was palpable. In a very short time I realized I was in a room full of some incredibly dynamic individuals and educators. Following a formal banquet, an introduction to JFMF by our Japanese leader/host Kyoko Jones, and a break-out into our smaller prefecture groups (more on this later) we headed to our rooms for what would be a evening of restless sleep in anticipation of the coming days events.