Canon hosted “The Fifth Canon Enjoy Music!” event at Muza Kawasaki*, in Kawasaki City, on December 22, 2012.

This program is carried out jointly with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, which calls Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall home. One of Canon's educational support and community contribution activities, the goal of this endeavor is to provide an opportunity for children to become intimately familiar with music by experiencing playing musical instruments and attending a mini-concert.

There was an open call for applicants from among elementary school age children in Kawasaki City, where Canon has several places of business, and neighboring Tsurumi Ward in Yokohama City. On the day of the event, the elementary school pupils and their family members participated.

For this event, the children were able to enjoy hands-on experience playing three string instruments, the violin, viola and cello, under the guidance of the orchestra members. Although many of the children had never handled these instruments before, they all tackled the effort in earnest. Digital single-lens reflex cameras were lent out to accompanying parents or guardians to capture their children playing the instruments on video and through still photos.

Following this, the participating orchestra members presented a mini concert, performing songs both children and adults could enjoy.

The impressions voiced by the parents and guardians included observations such as that, “It was a good opportunity for the children’s interests to expand” and “We were able to share a good experience together as parent and child that will remain memorable for us.”

* Canon has been a special supporter of the Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall since 2007.