Tomoko’s Christmas Memories

 

As Tomoko demonstrates, Christmas certainly builds lifelong musical memories.

Tomoko attended Ferris Academy: an elite Dutch Reformed school for girls, located in Yokohama. “At Christmas time everyone memorized Bible verses and performed Christmas music,” Tomoko remembers.  

She also recalls: “The Dutch Reformed school received Christmas cards from the U.S., and the images showed a very rich and full Christmas. The teachers would cut the cards with zigzag scissors, and sell them at the school Christmas bazaar (an American tradition brought to the school). In Japan at that time, every scrap of paper was dear, so the cards were very popular. “

When Tomoko attended the Conservatory of San Francisco, she spent the Christmas break with her classmate. Tomoko remembers dressing in a pale flowered kimono, and playing a board game at her friend’s home.

Tomoko’s musical memory of Christmas also extends to her daughter Beata’s ’s piano playing. The little girl was  frantic one evening, when she told her mother, “Mummy, the school Christmas program is tomorrow, and I have to play “Up on the Housetop! I told the teacher that I couldn’t do it, and she said that you would help. Help! What am I going to do??” Tomoko thought to herself: “That’s too much pressure for a little girl.” To Beata, though, she said calmly, “Let’s go to the piano.” Tomoko sat down beside her. “Don’t worry. The most important thing is the rhythm. Now play middle G, and sing the song, tapping the key for each note.” Tomoko listened and observed closely, and gave Beata some encouraging suggestions. Beata practiced for the next half hour, with Tomoko’s gradual release of coaching. The next day, Tomoko asked Beata, “How did the program go?” Beata smiled, “The teacher didn’t even notice that it was just one note!” Tomoko wasn’t surprised, and hugged her daughter.

As a teacher, Tomoko advised parents: "Your actions speak volumes. And your musical investment of time can bring untold value to your children. You can share Christmas carols as a way to share your love of music with your children. You and your children can grow together through music.”

Tomoko also sees Christmas as a universal musical experience. Tomoko sees the importance of experiencing music through the lens of a country, and comparing those different expressions. She suggests: “Compare Christmas songs from different countries. They are a way to connect with culture.”

 

Post-War Yokohama

 

When Tomoko’s sister fell ill, the family moved from Tokyo to Yokohama. Thus, Tomoko spent most of her teenage years under the American occupancy.  

Because of the military presence, Tomoko’s parents told her, “Come straight home from school,” so she didn’t encounter many Americans. Personally, she didn’t mind their presence. The Americans started a food bank, a contrast to the years of families scraping by on their own. And the Americans brought new kinds of music, which were thrilling and a little edgy.

 

At her private high school, some of the curriculum reflected the remaining United States occupation policy, although Tomoko didn’t realize all the ramifications. For instance, nationalistic Japanese history was replaced by social studies, which had a more practical bent.  Since the school was founded by American missionaries, such of the curriculum already reflected American values. For example, students were encouraged to think for themselves, and to make individual contributions to improve the community, which philosophy was not lost on Tomoko. In addition, English was required; even though that language was difficult for Tomoko, she knew that English was important because it helped her get around in a city that served as a U.S. command base.

 

The city itself had a hard time recuperating. It didn’t help that the city was firebombed just before the end of WWII, destroying neighborhoods. There were many homeless people and orphan children, and food could be scarce. Right after the war, all port activities and private trade stopped because the American military controlled such business. Only by 1951 was port control transferred to the state level. Nevertheless, Yokohama experience great population growth after the war, especially in its suburbs. That highlighted the need for more roads, utilities, and schools. The war’s impact did have a silver lining in that the city could build a new commercial and business bub, and the residential area was planned to be sustainable to prevent urban sprawl.

 

As for Tomoko, her family, school and music sustained her during this time.

 

Musical Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a very American holiday: sharing abundance as a community. The first Thanksgiving also acknowledged the importance of interdependence and benefits of diversity:  values that Americans continue to seek and support. 

It should be noted that giving thanks is a universal value, one that Tomoko appreciates and practices. Throughout her life, she has been helped to realize her dreams, and she has helped others to realize their own dreams.  Not surprisingly, a central theme is music.

Tomoko was thankful that her family home was filled with music, especially their regard for the classics. Music enabled Tomoko to be accepted into the prestigious Ferris School in Yokohama. The school’s singing ensembles, in turn, were thankful that Tomoko accompanied them on the piano. Likewise, Tomoko’s musical gifts and her years of practice led to her successful  competition to enter the University of Tokyo; she was both thankful for her own efforts and for her opportunity to learn at the nation’s best university for music.

Tomoko was thankful for Professor Jan Popper, who found a way for her to emigrate to the United States – as part of his opera  program.  Dr. Popper also advised her to apply to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, which resulted in her successful studying and teaching there for fifty years. Tomoko was thankful for the widow who let Tomoko share her home, and the homeowner was thankful in turn for Tomoko’s assistance. Tomoko was also thankful for James H. Schwabacher. At one point in her college career, Tomoko didn’t have enough money to pay for her tuition. At this critical time James Schwabacher, a board member of the school, provided Tomoko with the scholarship money so she could continue at the conservatory. Tomoko showed her thankfulness in her hard work and musical success.

And Tomoko has given of herself and her music throughout her life, for which thousands have been thankful to her. Her concert performances have touched so many audiences. Her expert and caring teaching has helped so many students grow in their knowledge and love of music, and helped their own personal and professional growth.

We can all be thankful for music.

Broad Horizons and Sure Footing

When Tomoko was growing up, she would look over the Yokohama harbor, and see all the ships coming and going. At her high school every four years new teachers would come to instruct. Before she graduated, Tomoko already knew, “I want to go to another country.”

When Tomoko considered where to go, she saw that Europeans were migrating to the United States. Even through Europe was considered the musical heartland, wars drove creative people to the states: Hindemith, Weill, Schoenberg, Korngold.

Starting in a new country was often hard. Tomoko started by teaching piano to children of Japanese families. She competed for scholarships. But she also realized: “When you have hardships, you understand more.”

Tomoko encourages her piano students to have dreams, and keep up their hopes. And she knows that making those dreams come true requires hard work. Tomoko tells her students: “When you want to climb up to the top, start with a small mountain.  Make sure your foot is on the ground.  One step is far enough.  Then I tell my students that everything is possible.” Tomoko should know.