• Discover The Magic Crayons, a creative team of qualified English teachers and artists working in Japan, the UK, and China. Led by Mr. Tim, an IB Teacher and Librarian, we create engaging ESL resources, original songs, crafts, and classroom games—alongside hand-drawn printable art and handcrafted laser-cut gifts. Explore our journey, educational materials, and passion for creativity and learning. © The Magic Crayons

Get to Know Mr. Tim: English Teacher, Music Lover, and Cycling Enthusiast

  • Mr Tim

    Hello everyone, I’m Mr. Tim from England! My hometown is Birmingham, UK, the biggest city after London—famous for Cadbury’s chocolate and great curry. I’ve been living in Japan since 2004, and I still love the weather, food, and historic temples.

    I’m a teacher at an International IB School in Japan, with experience in:

    • IB Design & Lower Secondary Computing
    • Elementary ESL (ELL) & English Language Support
    • Elementary School Librarian
    • ICT Support for parents and staff

    Beyond teaching, I’m passionate about creating educational materials and handcrafted art. I designed this website and create all the artwork, videos, and teaching materials available on Teachers Pay Teachers, YouTube, Etsy, Amazon, and Shopify.

    When I’m not teaching, I explore Japan by bicycle and document my rides on my Cycle Japan Blog. If you see me, say hello—let’s have fun learning English!

Meet Bradley: Preschool Teacher, Musician, and Songwriter

  • Bradley

    Hello, my name is Bradley, and I’m from Dallas, Texas. I’ve been teaching children and adults in Japan since 2005, and I now run my own teaching company in Tokyo.

    Outside the classroom, I’m a musician and songwriter, hoping to be the Keith Richards of the band—though I’m still working on the cool factor! Seeing children sing the songs we create is an amazing experience, and I look forward to hearing you sing along soon!

Dave’s Story: From Tokyo Teaching to Rocking Out with The Magic Crayons

  • Dave

    Welcome! My name is Dave, and I’ve been living in Sangenjaya, Tokyo, since 2001. I teach English to kindergarten children, as well as private lessons for young learners and adults.

    When I’m not teaching, I enjoy playing music with The Magic Crayons—there’s nothing better than bringing songs to life with a great band! I also love watching movies in my spare time and occasionally bring my friend Chad along to band practice—he joins in when the mood strikes!

    I hope to see you at one of our live shows soon!

    YouTube

Meet Dave: Guitarist, Songwriter, and Kindergarten Teacher

  • Dave

    Hi, my name is Dave, and I’ve been playing guitar and singing in The Magic Crayons since the band started in 2008.

    I moved to Japan from England in 2004 and have never looked back—I love this country and the amazing people here. For the past two decades, I’ve been teaching English to kindergarten children, a job I still truly enjoy every day.

    Music is a huge part of my life, and I love performing live shows with The Magic Crayons. Hopefully, I’ll see you at our next gig—thank you for your support!

Meet Rachel: Special Guest Vocalist and English Teacher

  • Rachel

    Hello! I’m Rachel, and I’ve been teaching English in Japan since January 2008. When I’m not in the classroom, I love reading, listening to music, and exploring Tokyo.

    The best part of my job? Bringing energy and fun into the classroom—especially when I get to show off my mad Freeze Tag skills! English is such a crazy and fun language, and I’m excited to help students discover just how much they can enjoy learning it.

Meet Jeremy: From The Magic Crayons to Broadway Stardom

  • Jeremy

    Hi, I’m Jeremy, and my journey has taken me from performing with The Magic Crayons to the bright lights of Broadway!

    As a passionate musician and performer, my time with The Magic Crayons was an incredible experience, blending music, education, and entertainment. Now, I bring that same energy and creativity to the Broadway stage, sharing my love of performance with audiences around the world.

    No matter where my career takes me, I’ll always appreciate the fun, music, and memories made with The Magic Crayons!

The Magic Crayons Live Show in Tokyo, Japan 2010

  • Summer School Live

  • Bradley on Keys, Dave on Guitar

History of The Magic Crayons

  • 2009 – Website launched, created by Mr. Tim.

    2010 – Dave, Dave, Bradley, Rachel, and Mr. Tim write 32 unique children's songs as The Magic Crayons for the children in their classrooms.

    2010 – Dave, Dave, Bradley, and Mr. Tim upload over 365 of their favorite classroom games.

    2010 – Disco Yeah! and Robots and Rainbows albums released on CD.

    2010 – Albums released on iTunes and Amazon.

    2011 – Flashcards added in English, Japanese, and Spanish.

    2011 – YouTube channel launched with dance moves for teachers.

    2012 – Crafts and songs added to the Teachers Pay Teachers website.

  • 2020 – Mr. Tim's artwork added to gifts on Etsy.

    2022 – Story-time videos added for children at the onset of the global pandemic.

    2023 – The Magic Crayons merch available on Amazon.

    2023 – New website launched; affiliate sales program added.

    2023 – Mr. Tim’s cycling hobby evolves into a YouTube channel.

    2024 – Major expansion of gifts and merch.

    2024 – The Magic Crayons YouTube channel reaches 916,000 views.

    2024 – TMC Cycling in Japan YouTube channel reaches 25,000 views.

    2024 – Spotify streams reach 2,380,000.

    2025 – Art store opens.