Music is something that is loved by everyone, everywhere. I learned of its joy at a young age, as my mother was a piano teacher, giving lessons to students all day in our small apartment. Before I learned to speak, I think I knew the melodies of the music they played. My mother was always playing records for me, and finally started teaching me when I turned four. The two I loved most as a child were Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev and Violin Concertos by Tchaikovsky in D Major Op. 35. Although there were times I was away from the instrument, I have found that the piano and I are inseparable. The piano always lifts my spirits when I am down.
In my piano teaching, I strive to help my students find the joy in music; piano may not end up being their instrument, but by learning piano with me, they can learn to read and write music, which gives them the freedom to find whatever music makes them the happiest. Recently I had an adult student who came to me and said “Yuko, I want to learn to play the Super Mario song because I am tired of buying Christmas gifts for my family. Instead, I want to play lovely music for them as a gift!” I was deeply touched by the thought, and helped her accomplish her goals. I feel even more blessed now that she is coming back to learn more songs to play. If you have even the slightest interest, it would be an honor to share the joy of music with you.
