My piano journey

Let me share my piano journey with you. In our house, there was my mother’s Yamaha upright piano, and as a young child, I often thought about how wonderful it would be if someone played that instrument. Around the age of 6, my interest in playing the piano started to grow, and I began asking my parents for piano lessons. However, they didn’t believe my request for a few years, so I continued to play by myself. Finally, just after my 8th birthday, my parents arranged for me to have regular piano lessons. I thoroughly enjoyed them and kept practicing diligently.

One of my favorite experiences was playing accompaniment for school choirs. I loved sight-reading (and still do), so my friends would gather around the piano, requesting songs they wanted to sing while I provided accompaniment. It was a cherished time for me, and I found more joy in playing the piano than in reading books. Reading musical notes brought me great solace. Interestingly, I didn’t develop a liking for reading books until I turned 25. Nowadays, I appreciate reading books as much as I do reading sheet music.

When I was 13 years old in 1993, my father purchased a piano CD album, which was quite exciting as it marked the beginning of the CD era. I listened to that album countless times and even tried to play the pieces featured on it. I memorized the order and did my best to play as many pieces as I could. While some were too challenging for me, I still remember the ones I managed to play.

My passion for playing the piano continued throughout my time at Kanazawa University, where I pursued an education course for music teachers. It was during this period that I once again had the opportunity to immerse myself in playing the piano. The enjoyment I derived from it was unparalleled. I truly love playing the piano.

Being able to share the beauty and emotional connection of music with others is an incredible feeling. Playing the piano has always been one of the most effective ways for me to relax. To achieve this, it is essential to learn the fundamental principles, such as how to read sheet music. Once you grasp these basics, you have the freedom to express yourself through your own interpretation of the music. It’s a liberating experience.