MY STORY
Moving has been a part of my life for the last twenty-four years. My husband’s job took me to eight different locations along the way. Every move was learning and growing experience in my life. You never know where the next big opportunities lie! My musical journey started out of such an experience.
On our 5th move, when we lived in Virginia I had an opportunity to go back to school in pursuit of my life long passion for piano. In four years, I earned a Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance with Cum Laude from Christopher Newport University (Newport News, VA). It was a long and rugged path to the finish line. I made a lot of mistakes during my school years, went through so many embarrassing moments and sometimes I didn’t know why I was putting myself through this when I could have just peacefully stay home with my three young children! Though I must add that there were some glorious moments: Not only was I blessed with wonderful piano professors, but I have had the honor of receiving master classes with world renowned pianists such as Ivo Pogorelich (Yes, you heard me right!), Christopher O’riley (well-known for his national public radio show “From the Top”), and Canadian Pianist Ian Parker. I also was a finalist at a couple of piano competitions. In the end, school prepared me to be a good musician giving me all the needed musical knowledge and performance experiences. Most importantly the whole experience allowed me to appreciate music, not limited to classical music and performers, in more profound way.
However my musical journey didn’t end there. In fact, that was the beginning of my quest to play the piano beautifully and expressively without making mistakes and without injuring my arms, which had happened during my school years. I believe that when you deeply want something you will find a way to achieve your goal. In that way, I found an amazing teacher, Ilinca Vartic, a Russian piano school graduate, who has taught me and continues to teach me everything I need to know to play beautifully way beyond what I was able to learn in four years of school. I have developed great respect and fascination for the way they teach piano at Russians piano school.
After the graduation I had two moves: Japan and Washington State (now back in Japan). In both locations, I have performed as a collaborative pianist for instrumentalists, singers, and orchestra as well as teaching piano privately. In Washington State I earned the title of Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, NCTM, through the Music Teacher’s National Association of which I am a member.
My musical career and experience is by no means extraordinary; however, my passion for music is authentic and I genuinely want to share my knowledge and the wonders of playing the piano with people. Viewed from the world of music my part maybe small but I believe that I can play a significant role in passing beautiful piano music to others so that the music lives on.
Moving has been a part of my life for the last twenty-four years. My husband’s job took me to eight different locations along the way. Every move was learning and growing experience in my life. You never know where the next big opportunities lie! My musical journey started out of such an experience.
On our 5th move, when we lived in Virginia I had an opportunity to go back to school in pursuit of my life long passion for piano. In four years, I earned a Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance with Cum Laude from Christopher Newport University (Newport News, VA). It was a long and rugged path to the finish line. I made a lot of mistakes during my school years, went through so many embarrassing moments and sometimes I didn’t know why I was putting myself through this when I could have just peacefully stay home with my three young children! Though I must add that there were some glorious moments: Not only was I blessed with wonderful piano professors, but I have had the honor of receiving master classes with world renowned pianists such as Ivo Pogorelich (Yes, you heard me right!), Christopher O’riley (well-known for his national public radio show “From the Top”), and Canadian Pianist Ian Parker. I also was a finalist at a couple of piano competitions. In the end, school prepared me to be a good musician giving me all the needed musical knowledge and performance experiences. Most importantly the whole experience allowed me to appreciate music, not limited to classical music and performers, in more profound way.
However my musical journey didn’t end there. In fact, that was the beginning of my quest to play the piano beautifully and expressively without making mistakes and without injuring my arms, which had happened during my school years. I believe that when you deeply want something you will find a way to achieve your goal. In that way, I found an amazing teacher, Ilinca Vartic, a Russian piano school graduate, who has taught me and continues to teach me everything I need to know to play beautifully way beyond what I was able to learn in four years of school. I have developed great respect and fascination for the way they teach piano at Russians piano school.
After the graduation I had two moves: Japan and Washington State (now back in Japan). In both locations, I have performed as a collaborative pianist for instrumentalists, singers, and orchestra as well as teaching piano privately. In Washington State I earned the title of Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, NCTM, through the Music Teacher’s National Association of which I am a member.
My musical career and experience is by no means extraordinary; however, my passion for music is authentic and I genuinely want to share my knowledge and the wonders of playing the piano with people. Viewed from the world of music my part maybe small but I believe that I can play a significant role in passing beautiful piano music to others so that the music lives on.