Makiko Hirata

Please Help: How to Make me a YouTuber!

Our society is full of hard-working and devoted artists, who are seeking opportunities right now. We have had world-class schooling, and many of us possess the terminal degree. We are ethnically and culturally diverse, and many of us have international backgrounds and experiences. And organizations such as WHO and NIH endorse music and arts as effective for our well-being, after close examinations of researches on the subject from all over the world. Art is an inexpensive and accessible resource that is easier to distribute than medicine worldwide. And I have the expertise, experience and conviction to effectively strategize the use of the arts to address many of the challenges we are facing.

Please Help: How to Make me a YouTuber! Read More »

Music Encourages Empathy (Mirror Neuron)

“Why do people like sad music?” A few years ago, my eight-year-old student asked me. Ever since then, I have been pondering on this rather profound question. Today, while much of our nation is under curfew because of people protesting on the streets demanding their equal rights, I wonder if sad music trains us to empathize with sufferings of others. We, as global citizens, share our space and time. Governor Newsom said today in his statement how “we are one body. If one part suffers, we all suffer.” Through the power of empathy, we must restructure our society so that sharing our joys can encourage and inspire us to share our burdens. I will continue to do my part as a musician to encourage us to dream about our future.

Music Encourages Empathy (Mirror Neuron) Read More »

Thank you for your Love and Support.

I feel so lucky and grateful. I am writing this today as a thank-you card, addressed to my friends, to my readers, and more broadly to the world. My guess is that it will be a couple of years until performance arts resume its regular activities in full force. I miss my audience, and performing live. But even in the midst of all of this, I can continue to create and deliver my music, with the love, help and support from my friends and followers, who care about what I do.

Thank you for your Love and Support. Read More »