Okinawa music lessons
Santa Monica International
Santa Monica International School (SMIS) is located in Sunabe near Kadena Gate 1. It is one of the few off-base schools fully accredited by the U.S. for grades Pre-K through 8th grade. SMIS accepts students starting at 6 weeks old to 4 years old for preschool all the way to 8th grade. SMIS opens at 6am to 8 am for extended care, 8 am to 4 pm for school hours (3:40 for kindergarten), and 4 pm to 6 pm for after school care. Class size is 16 to 20 students per class. SMIS also has a new preschool campus located outside the main Camp Courtney gate.
St. Josephine Montessori
St. Josephine Montessori School was founded in 2011 in a two-story home in Urasoe City to offer quality Montessori education to families in Okinawa. Classes are offered in English for children ages 2 to 6 years old. Following the Montessori tradition, the classroom ages are mixed, and subjects include Practical Life, Arts, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, Science and Geography, plus opportunities for music, creative arts and crafts, physical education, and cultural outings.
Leonardo da Vinci Academy
Leonardo da Vinci International Academy (LDVA) in Uruma City is U.S. accredited and provides English-based, holistic education for elementary through high school. LDVA’s approach is tutorial in nature, focusing on learning at the pace of the student, making it ideal for students and families in need for both flexibility and excellence. The school provides a custom-made curriculum, an honors advanced program, small classes (up to 8 students per teacher), English or fully bilingual programs (with Spanish or Japanese), and full-time psychological support.
Kuwae Preschool
Kuwae Preschool on Camp Lester is a NAEYC-accredited half-day preschool program for children ages 3-5. The program promotes learning and development through the use of learning centers. Children move at their own pace, and teachers have a degree in education or a related field. All classrooms have a Japanese co-teacher who is bilingual and aids in teaching Japanese language and Okinawan culture. Kuwae offers low teacher-to-student ratios of 10-15 students per class. Students can attend two-day, three-day, or five-day morning or afternoon programs.
Sunset Music School
Sunset Music School Okinawa, founded in 2002, helps students identify and develop their musical talents. It offers lessons to children as young as 4 years old all the way to adults. Students can learn the piano, guitar (acoustic, electric, classical), drums, saxophone, clarinet, flute, trumpet, and sanshin. Teachers are performing artists and well educated in their craft and provide individualized learning. Teachers encourage and adjust to a students’ capacities and capabilities to learn.
