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"Dr. Pianist" Makiko Hirata DMA
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Why Music?

1 Comment / Healing Power of Music, Life of a Pianist, My musical mission, Nikkan San "The Way of the Pianist" / Makiko Hirata

I want my audience members to know how powerful their presence is, how they effect my playing; how it is not a one-way presentation, but such an exchange.

Why Music? Read More »

Texts to be Heard, Music to be Read.

1 Comment / Memorization, Music History, Nikkan San "The Way of the Pianist" / Makiko Hirata

Literacy shifted our priorities from our own senses and experiences to our intellect and understanding, and from our nature as social animals to individualism.

Texts to be Heard, Music to be Read. Read More »

Emotions and Memory

1 Comment / Healing Power of Music, Life of a Pianist, Nikkan San "The Way of the Pianist" / Makiko Hirata

Amygdala, the part of our brain that deals with pleasures/displeasure, emotions and survival instinct is next to hippocampus, another part of our brain that processes input into memories. One of the factors that hippocampus uses to decide whether to retain or discard an input by is signals from amygdala.

Emotions and Memory Read More »

Musical Relay: RIP Seiji Ozawa (1935-2024)

3 Comments / Healing Power of Music, Music History, Nikkan San "The Way of the Pianist" / Makiko Hirata

Maestro Seiji Ozawa, who signed the program for me that day in 1991, passed on last week, on February 6th.

Musical Relay: RIP Seiji Ozawa (1935-2024) Read More »

Cinema Kabuki “Yugen”

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

Yugen means “deep and subtle mysteries of life and universe,” “fleeting yet significant meaning of everything,” and “thoughts/feelings/sentiments beyond words.”

Cinema Kabuki “Yugen” Read More »

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