Geisha Training Schools
Geisha train rigorously in the arts, in entertaining, and social etiquette. Aspiring geisha attended Nyokoba, a geisha training school. She would spend all day at school, then do her ‘home’ duties in the evening, often well into the night, trying to practice her lessons in her meager down time. At school, students learned the performing arts; how to dance without a flaw, how to play an instrument like the shamisen or shimedaiko to perfection, how to sing on pitch every time. Students learned the art of entertaining, not just the ritual tea ceremonies, but how to speak to guests and interact with large groups. She studied visual arts like flower arranging, ikebana, and calligraphy, or shodoh. Although the geisha trained in all these areas, she would eventually choose a specialty. She would dedicate most of her time to perfecting her chosen art, much like a college student chooses a major.