Makiko Hirata

The Show Must Go On!

Please take a big breath in as you raise your shoulders to your ears, and drop them as you breath out completely. End smile, even if you have to force, and sing. You can hum to yourself, or really sing out loud. Any song. Too much focus on the source of the stress can be destructive. It can lead to an excess induction of the stress hormones and adrenaline, undermining your executive functions.

The Show Must Go On! Read More »

HOW, instead of WHY.

According to neuroscience, you cannot wait for motivations to come to you. You have to start whatever you want to be motivated to do. Starting is your responsibility. Motivation kicks in after you start. When I really wonder if I really have to practice today too, I put a timer on for twenty minutes and tell myself, I can take a break, or even a day off, if I still wanted to after twenty minutes. Usually, by the time the timer comes on, I want to keep on going. Let’s not ask “WHY” we do what we have committed ourselves to doing, but “HOW” to keep on going, when it feels difficult.

HOW, instead of WHY. Read More »

Join Us! Dancers/Poet/Pianist Collaborate over Zoom!

When: Sundays, Aug. 23 & 30 at 11:30-12:30 (PT)/2:30-3:30 (ET)
Admission: Free (All donations will go directly to the performers)
Program: Beethoven Piano Sonata No 14, Op. 27-2 first mov (“Moonlight”), Scriabin Nocturne for the Left Hand, and Rachmaninoff Prelude in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 3-2.
For more details and reservation, please go to https://cmcollab.org/

Join Us! Dancers/Poet/Pianist Collaborate over Zoom! Read More »

Add Rhythm to Homeschooling with Some Musical Cues

How about little musical cues before the beginning of every online classes, or time to to their homework? Maybe a chime? A little call-and-response? It could even be a ringtone. It does not matter what it is as long as there is an understanding between you and the children. It’s like a very small ritual of conditioning, like Pavlov’s dog.

Add Rhythm to Homeschooling with Some Musical Cues Read More »