Singing in School

Tomoko knows the power of singing, and how it relates to the piano. 

Tomoko recalls her own history of singing in school when she started in elementary school during World War II. The Japanese government knew the power of sung words, and required singing in school starting with the earliest grades. The government would take well-known melodies and have nationalistic lyrics put to them for the children to sing.

In Tomoko’s high school Ferris, everyone was expected to sing. They sang European classical music, including religious songs, since Ferris was founded by the Dutch Reformed Church. Tomoko also accompanied the school’s singers. 

Tomoko attended the Tokyo Cathedral near the University of Tokyo where she majored in piano.  There Father Henri taught Gregorian chant, and Tomoko and other students would go to the church to hear and learn this music genre. 

At the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Tomoko’s composition teacher encouraged students to explore their own styles. This support led Tomoko, who was a voice minor, to have several opportunities to perform her many haiku compositions. She continues, “There were so many talented teachers; they were very open-minded and welcoming.”

Tomoko sometimes has her students sing along with playing the piano as a way to help with phrasing and interpretation. In fact, when students learn a song, Tomoko has them start by understanding the words.

Today, as Tomoko teaches piano, she sometimes has her students sing along with playing the piano as a way to help with phrasing and interpretation. In fact, when students learn a song, Tomoko has them start by understanding the words. Tomoko knows that the power of words is made stronger by music. 

Mapping the Musical Journey

Tomoko loves to travel and broaden her musical horizons. She also guides her students’ musical journey.

As a young girl, Tomoko began her musical path by following her brother’s trail. They would take the train to have piano and organ lessons. 

When the family moved from Tokyo to Yokohama, Tomoko enrolled in the prestigious Ferris Academy, where she expanded her performance skill. From the school’s hilltop, Tomoko would view the harbor with its sailing ships. “There’s a ship waiting for me,” she thought. “I will play the piano in America some day.”

After graduating from the University of Tokyo, known for its music program, Tomoko mapped her emigration to the United States, both in terms of flying and in pursuing her musical education.

And her journeys did not end there. Tomoko traveled to Europe, not only to compete internationally but also to experience the continent’s musical history and scene. In the process, she met great musicians, played a Medici harpsichord, visited Chopin’s residence, and had other musical adventures.

For fifty years Tomoko has also helped her students map their musical journey. She encourages them to explore each composition for its musical paths, and to visit the lives of the composers. She challenges them to climb musically in order to view the landscape of the profession. Tomoko assserts, "We need to grow and develop."

Each trip and each student, unfolds, like a map. Tomoko enjoys opening a new map. What will be the goal? How will we get there? What sites are along the way? What challenges will we meet – and overcome? And at the end of each experience, Tomoko knows to let the map “fold itself.” She does not try to reshape the experience or the student. Instead, she enables her students to reshape themselves and to make their own musical journeys. 

Tomoko knows her way – and applauds her students’ own musical explorations.