{"id":1233,"date":"2019-09-30T15:10:10","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T22:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musicalmakiko.com\/en\/?p=1233"},"modified":"2019-10-01T19:42:49","modified_gmt":"2019-10-02T02:42:49","slug":"soul-search-where-am-i-going","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musicalmakiko.com\/en\/my-musical-mission\/1233","title":{"rendered":"My Hopes and Dreams."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In order to decide how to make my musical activity more socially relevant and directly impactful, I need enough perspective to see what\/where the needs are, independent of traditional performance practice and preconceived notions. Having been single-minded in my pursuit of a solo career for the first three decades of my life, I know that once I commit, it will be difficult to step back for perspective. So, I have been taking my time, putting efforts into broadening my vision, since I got my DMA in May 2017. I recognize this as luxury, but also a responsibility. So I share my process of how I’ve come to where I am today, what I foresee in the near future, and my overall hopes and dreams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How I’ve come to Where I am Today. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1 During the course of my research for my thesis (on the historical background to the practice of memorization, especially for pianists<\/a>), I came to realize a certain set of biases that classical musicians are susceptible to, that are deep rooted in the history and culture of classical music: anti-intellectualism (#1 music is to be “felt” not understood, #2 blind faith in authorities; the score, composers, conductors, etc), and racism and misogyny. I faced my own ignorance, and vulnerability to these biases – resulting in an internalized oppression as a woman of color in pursuit of ideal prescribed by white men, especially the German Romantic Idealists.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2 Then, immediately following my graduation, I became a delegate to the US-Japan Leadership Program<\/a>. It was a life-changing experience for me, having grown up in the bubble of classical music. Two things were especially eye-opening for me. One was meeting Nikole Hannah-Jones<\/a>, an investigative journalist to the New York Times on civil rights, and more specifically today’s school segregation, issues. I never really knew the extent of racism that existed in this country until I met Nikole, and learned of her work, although I was starting to wonder after my dissertation research, and populist politics worldwide. The second eye-opening thing was the number of M.D.’s, who had gone back to school to get a MBA in order to start a medically related businesses that addressed problems they saw in the current medical system. They all said that in order to change a broken system, one cannot do it from within the system. I thought that might apply to music, and to me, as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3 In the fall of 2017, I moved to LA. In Houston during my studies at Rice for my DMA, I felt securely established as a teacher and a freelancer. In LA, I had to start from scratch. I was outside of the system now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things I have done since my move to LA. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n