Recently, I was invited to perform as a guest at the piano recital of Tanabe-sensei’s piano studio.
I was truly happy to receive this invitation from Tanabe-sensei, whom I admire and love dearly. It was such a wonderful and heartwarming day filled with beautiful music.
Wonderful Performances by the Students
The first part of the recital began with a six-year-old student performing a piece from the Bastien piano method.
From the youngest students to the older performers, everyone played with great concentration and dedication. It was wonderful to see each student express themselves through music.
In the middle of the first part, Tanabe-sensei gave a special teacher performance.
I had the pleasure of listening from the audience, and her beautiful, gentle playing drew me into a poetic musical world. It was such a peaceful and healing moment.
Guest Performance — Sharing the Joy of the Violin
At the end of the first part, I had the pleasure of performing as a guest.
Tanabe-sensei introduced me to the audience, sharing a little about the violin, my musical background, and my studies at universities in the United States, including my master’s degree.
My first piece was “Merry-Go-Round of Life” from Studio Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle.
It is a piece that many people know and love, with beautiful changes in tempo and character. I especially enjoyed working closely with the pianist to breathe together and create the different moods of the music.
I played with all my heart, hoping that everyone could enjoy the beautiful world of the piece.
More Music in the Second Part
The second part featured wonderful piano performances, including four-hand pieces played by siblings and friends, as well as an exciting relay-style ensemble performance by middle school students.
Four pianists took turns seamlessly, creating the feeling of one continuous musical flow.
With its lively Brazilian rhythms, the performance was full of energy and fun, and brought a wonderful atmosphere to the hall!
Later in the second part, I had the opportunity to perform again as a guest.
First, I played “A Whole New World” from Disney’s Aladdin.
I then performed “Csárdás”, a piece that allows me to explore some of the unique expressive qualities of the violin.
With its passionate melodies, flexible tempo, and exciting sense of movement, I was able to really enjoy the freedom of expression that the violin offers.
The Awards Ceremony and “Tsubasa wo Kudasai”
After the performances, there was an awards ceremony.
I was happy to provide violin music as background music during the ceremony.
I also had the pleasure of joining the piano teachers and performers on violin for the beautiful group singing of “Tsubasa wo Kudasai”.
It was a wonderful way to end a recital filled with so much music and joy.
A Wonderful Teacher, Tanabe-sensei
Tanabe-sensei was truly in full action throughout the entire recital.
In addition to performing her own solo, she accompanied her students, supported their performances, and took care of so many details behind the scenes.
She warmly supported each student and created such a wonderful opportunity for everyone to share their music.
Tanabe-sensei, thank you so much for all your hard work!
And thank you from the bottom of my heart for inviting me to be part of such a beautiful recital. 💓
The students’ performances, the teachers’ music, and the warm atmosphere in the hall made the entire day very special.
I was deeply touched and inspired by all the beautiful music, and I felt so happy to be part of it.
Once again, I was reminded of how wonderful it is to connect with others through music.
Thank you, Tanabe-sensei, and thank you to everyone who took part in the recital, for sharing such a beautiful day with me. 😊
I look forward to making music together again someday!