Graduate of English Dept. 2002

In the summer of 2000, I came to the U.S. as an exchange student from Sapporo University to study at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK). The purpose of studying abroad was to improve my English skills. However, after one year, when I was about to return to Japan, I realized that my dream had changed slightly. I strongly hoped that I would come back to the United States again and go to a school of music to work on a master's degree.

While I was away from music, I always regretted the fact that I had to quit my piano lessons that I had taken for a long time. Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to reconnect with my music. For one year, I studied piano with a professor at UNK. Attending music festivals and recitals helped me to reconnect with my passion.

Fortunately, I found out that the department of music at UNK offers a Piano Pedagogy certificate at the graduate level, which is exactly what I wanted to study. So, I decided to start my graduate studies in music at UNK. As soon as I returned to Japan in 2001, I continued practicing piano to prepare for my audition, which is required for entrance into graduate music programs. I remember practicing with the piano in the lecture hall at Sapporo University.

I returned to UNK as soon as I graduated from Sapporo University in 2002. I studied Piano Pedagogy in the graduate school, and two years later, obtained a Piano Pedagogy certificate. I then took examinations for entrance to music programs where I could study and obtain a master's degree in both jazz and classical piano performance.

After the music exams, auditions, and interviews, I chose to go to Eastern Illinois University (EIU) in Charleston, Illinois, where I currently live and study. Charleston is about a three-hour drive from St. Louis to the West, Chicago to the North and Indianapolis to the East.

I am currently a graduate assistant (GA) in the Music Department at EIU, so I receive a full tuition waiver, as well as a monthly stipend from the school. My duty as a GA is to accompany other musicians, or to be a pianist for concerts, recitals, music festivals, etc.

It is because of my job that I have been able to perform with many musicians, from amateurs to professionals. Also, performing as an accompanist for musical theater and opera concerts have been valuable experiences for me.

As far as my classes are concerned, I have taken seminars in Music History, Music/Jazz Theory, Analytical Technique, Jazz Improvisation, Composition/Arranging, and so on. This year, I taught a class called Piano Skills for undergraduate music major students due to my internship in music instruction. Teaching this class provided me with useful experience, since teaching piano at the college level is what I aspire to do with my life.

I probably would not be a graduate student and studying music in the U.S. without the four years I had spent studying English at Sapporo University. If I had decided to pursue the study of classical music in Japan, I would not have experienced the styles of jazz here, and would not have played with, or been inspired by, musicians from around the world.

This year will be my last year studying at EIU. I am working on a master's thesis as well as preparing for my graduate piano recital. I plan to continue my studies by pursuing a doctor of musical arts degree after I complete my master's degree in music. With plenty of hard work ahead, my challenge in America will continue well into the future.