Skip to content
"Dr. Pianist" Makiko Hirata DMA
"Dr. Pianist" Makiko Hirata DMA
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Discography
  • Biography
  • Repertoire for Piano and Orchestra
  • In Japanese
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Instagram

Book Review: The Soloist

Reading / Makiko Hirata

2020-7 The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship, and the Redemptive Power of Music (2008) by Steve Lopez Steve Lopez started writing about a Nathaniel Ayers in a series of LA Times column. Nathaniel was homeless, playing a violin that only had two strings – but the music drew Steve to Nathaniel and this […]

Book Review: The Soloist Read More »

Music vs. Technology

My musical mission / Makiko Hirata

History tells us that we have always known to count on the power of music. We do not know of any culture, past or present, without music. Some say Neanderthals sang. We instinctively sing to crying babies, and to soothe people in pain. We sing and dance together to bond, to commemorate, and to commiserate.

Music vs. Technology Read More »

Book Review: Maid (2019)

Reading / Makiko Hirata

2020-6 “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive” by Stephanie Lane (2019) I “read” this book as an audio book in my car over the course of a week. I read “Maid” because, it was one of the recent bestsellers by an unknown female author around my age, along with “Educated”

Book Review: Maid (2019) Read More »

Book Review: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (1989)

Reading / Makiko Hirata

2020-6: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey (1989) Read as an audio book in the car over the course of a week. It’s been at least a week since I finished reading (listening to) this book. This morning, as I flipped through the pages of

Book Review: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (1989) Read More »

The Role of Musicians in a Time of Crisis

Nikkan San "The Way of the Pianist" / Makiko Hirata

This is an English translation of an article published in Nikkan San on March 5, 2020, as a part of my column, “The Way of the Pianist. The threat of Coronavirus has been disruptive. Around the globe, schools have been closed, stock market has plummeted, and events are being cancelled. In the meantime, a letter from a

The Role of Musicians in a Time of Crisis Read More »

← Previous 1 … 30 31 32 … 50 Next →

Recent Posts

  • Mermaid’s Soul: Intro to my Memoir
  • Music in the Age of AI
  • The Future of Education
  • On the 80th Summer
  • The Calm Person in the Boat

Popular Blogs

  • Life of a Pianist
    The Awesomeness of “Goldberg” Variations: as Seen in Films
  • Book Review: “Friedl Sensei and Children of Terezin: 4,000 Drawings Left Behind in a Camp” (2011)  by Michiko Nomura.
    Reading
    Book Review: “Friedl Sensei and Children of Terezin: 4,000 Drawings Left Behind in a Camp” (2011) by Michiko Nomura.
  • Upcoming Recital Program! “Piano Waterscapes”
    Life of a Pianist
    Introducing “Piano Waterscapes,” a Recital Program.
  • Reading
    Book Review: The Soloist
  • Healing Power of Music, Life of a Pianist, Musical Activism, On-Call Musical Doctor: Music Heals
    Pianovan Adventure①:Planning
June 2026
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« Sep    

Archives

Copyright © 2026 "Dr. Pianist" Makiko Hirata DMA | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme