What made Makiko stick to the piano? Why did she never quit?Â
I have been writing a book, “Finding MY Music: A Pianist’s Journey,” about my fifteen-year battle with stage fright, sterotypes and sexual harassment as a young Japanese professional pianist, navigating through the American classical music industry. Because I am writing about the difficulties I faced in my earlier life right now, the members of my writing group are asking “why did the young Makiko never quit?”
Maybe because I have always known intuitively what Rumi famously said: “Wound is where the Light enters you.” The challenges I faced made me stronger, wiser, and more convinced of the necessity for what I do and advocate. Music heals. Musicians are healers.
And because I saw the power of what music can do. One day my neighbour told me that when she was caring for her dying father, she would come out to weed in the backyard whenever she heard me practice, so she could cry to my playing. Once at a concert, an elderly audience member jumped up to applaud. “Bravo!” he exclaimed, and then fell. In his complete absorption in music, he forgot that he needed a cane to stand. However briefly, music can liberate us from the limitations we struggle against.
What is my artistic vision?Â
Because I am in a new city, with a book to write and a new business idea, I have a whole lot of freedom to reinvent myself. I have the inexplicable desire/drive to share my music, my knowledge, my life experiences, and my perspective. Here is the list of what I envision my future artistic activities to revolve around:
- to advocate music and musicians as healing agents in this society.
- to help integrate personalized, interactive live musical experience in people’s daily lives.
- to promote musicians as spiritual guides with a unique perspective and insight in this society
- to offer the process of music making as something just as valuable as the perfected final product.
One of the ways I’ve been attempting to accomplish much of the above (except for the “live” part) is this.
I want to share the inspirations, discoveries, joy and awareness that I come to during the course of my daily practice. Making practice sessions, and rehearsals available in live streaming, and videos – or better yet, to invite people to witness them live!
But the question is…how to monetize my activities so that it is sustainable.
Traditionally, the two main sources of income for pianists have been concertizing and teaching. I have done them both extensively, and am happy to continue doing them both. But there are two problems.
- The ritualized concert format with strict protocols and rigid performance practices are
- Not the most effective way to experience music as a healing and brain-stimulating agent.
- It is alienating to people who are not familiar with the protocols
- It is not welcoming to people for whom the music is the most effective: people struggling with financial, physical, mental, psychiatrical and other challenges that come with life. Fetuses, babies and young children with developing brains.
- Â Concerts don’t pay their performers very well. And there are many performers willing to play for very little or free: students, or non-profit organizations with grant money.
2. Traditional teaching methods are
- Not always artistic. It does not allow me to impart the most valuable of what I have to share.
- Not always appreciated by the recipients.
- Can only reach a limited number of people per teacher.
So, how do I fulfil my sense of mission to share my music, my knowledge, my life experiences, and my perspective? I am writing my book, and I am uploading a short segment of my practice session every day to share with the world. But neither has made me a single cent yet. Instead, they require the investment of my time, and some money in tools, courses, transportation to meetings to promote/brainstorm, etc.
What, of my offerings, can I monetize? And how?Â
I have mentors advising me, and brainstorming and test-running with colleagues. But I need allies, and as many different input and perspectives as I can get. Feel free to share, or comment, on this post. I welcome private messaging too.