June 15, 2017

Music as Food for the Soul



               If you attend a recital planned by Tomoko, you will find that it is a bountiful event. Her recitals reflect a strong sense of community and of giving. All the performers give their all as they try to respect the composer, and give life to the composition. The audience are both lovers of music and friends of Tomoko and the performers.
               Long before the recital comes to life, Tomoko has carefully planted the seeds. As in a good banquet, she chooses the piano pieces based on the performers, and she looks for a stimulating balance of the various compositions. She looks for complementary textures that play off each other, without overloading the sensory experience.
Tomoko also integrates families and friends into the recital planning. They provide food and flowers, produce the playbill, manage set-up and clean-up, and often record the performance for later enjoyment and analysis.
On the day of the recital, people may arrive hours ahead in order to set up the welcoming area, and bring in refreshments. Tomoko graciously greets them, and like a conductor, helps each of them to play their role. Of course, Tomoko’s main focus are the performers and their instruments. She gives last-minute comments, and lets her students take center stage.  The performers and audience all aim for the same goal: to appreciate great music.  To experience its bounty.
The music lingers on in everyone’s memory, and that sense of musical togetherness echoes as tables of food are shared. Music is indeed food for the soul, and recitals make that experience indeed a sensual banquet of life.