Spring Piano Students Recital 2024
Congratulations to our 12 piano recitalists for your wonderful performances last April 20th, at Ideareve Ikegami Hall, Tokyo.
Kate Henry Music proudly presented its Spring Piano Students’ Recital last Saturday, April 20th, in the heart of Ikegami, Tokyo City. Situated in the peaceful, historical, and well-preserved town of Ikegami, Ideareve Ikegami Hall is a newly opened music salon catering to small concerts and recitals. We were blessed with a beautiful spring morning, no rain, and a little bit of passing clouds, it was a perfect day to hold our morning recital.
The recital was participated by 12 piano students out of 18. Some weren’t able to join due to prior schedules. Most of my participants were my students who started with me last year and few are new students.
The event was captured by my dearest photographer friend, Nami Maeda. All the photos in this blog are all her amazing and impeccable work.
For making the ambience and stage like a garden of flowers blooming in Spring, I salute and highly recommend the work of Mrs. Ophia and her family, the Crafty Custom Designz by Ophia. Thank you for your FANTASTIC job for making the stage ready for concerts like this.
The Recitalists
Programme Notes and Poster
Students in Action
Giving of Certificates
Reflections as a Piano Teacher
Time flies so fast and we are done with another successful piano recital with all the amazing, talented, and hardworking students of mine.
Since the start of year, I was planning early on for the Spring Recital. It was not a plan that I initiated but surprisingly, after a very successful Christmas Recital in 2023, the students and parents were asking me, “When is the next one?”. The Spring Recital is an idea from my students and their parents.
I was inspired again to organize another recital for 2024 because the students want to perform again with an audience. For me, that is the greatest feedback I heard, and I took it seriously. And here we are, we just did another concert together!
What I am happiest about is that most of my students remained and continued from last year. I am also really glad to welcome new students this year amidst my schedule being very full. I also lost some students due to new schedule conflict, but I am glad to be still in touch with them. Thank you for your trust for having me as your piano teacher.
For this recital, I was able to see my students grow- skills, technique, repertoire- but the most important thing that I saw as growth is the attitude towards music. The attitude to practice daily, the patience when mistakes are made during lessons and practice, the understanding that music is beyond notes, the discoveries of our hidden talents other than music- these are unfathomable growth that I see which I am truly grateful for.
Our weekly lessons have been something I love doing. I don’t mind the walks from the station to your respective houses, the commute I take every day, rain or shine, snowy or windy, I come to your house and your welcome me like a family member. The food, drinks, and stories we share after lessons are something I am extra thankful for when they don’t have to.
I don’t have a physical music studio or a rental studio yet but whenever I think about that, I want it to have the same feeling when I get to my students’ homes- the feeling of being so welcomed. For now, I truly enjoy teaching piano and commuting! I feel so much sense of freedom and it’s my time to clear my mind from the busy hours of teaching music in the Kindergarten all afternoon.
To end my reflection, I have nothing else left to say but my heart is overflowing with gratitude. Thank you for being my students because we learn a lot together and I learn a lot about myself. Thank you to the parents for the constant support especially monitoring their practice times. I look forward to seeing you in our weekly home lessons and to more concerts and recitals to conquer!
Congratulations once again!