Playing the Violin in the Kōsei Nenkin Kaikan was a Nightmare?

It is considered important for children to play musical instruments from an early age as part of their emotional education. Many parents are enthusiastic about their children’s music education because studying music from the age of 3 or 4, in particular, helps to develop a sense of pitch and, in some cases, makes it easier for children to acquire an absolute pitch. Recently, more and more parents are interested in having their children take entrance exams for kindergarten all the way up to junior high schools, and the number of children attending cram schools in their early elementary school years is soaring, especially in urban areas. On the other hand, the importance of music education seems to be less emphasized than it was before even though joining sports teams has now become more popular. Yet, many parents still want their children to at least learn piano.

I was also forced to learn piano. At the same time, I started taking vocal lessons, but I shortly quit because I would scream a lot when I was playing with my friends and I always had to sing in a hoarse voice. I managed to continue piano lessons for 3 years from the age of 3, and finished Sonatina No.3. I thought that would be enough, but my mother, who was very enthusiastic about education, started to insist that I take violin lessons, which I didn’t want to do at all. I couldn’t believe that a boy should play the violin. I complained, “No way! I don’t want to learn violin!” but she told me that a famous violin teacher was giving lessons near my house so I should go anyway. I ended up reluctantly starting violin.

I don’t really remember, but one day, my violin teacher suggested that we hold some kind of memorial concert, and I think I practiced a little harder than I normally did. To my surprise, the recital was to be held in the main hall of the Kōsei Nenkin Kaikan in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Since our teacher was famous and had a large number of students, the hall was packed on the day of the recital. I must have been scared even as a child. I don’t remember much about this day. I think we also rehearsed once, but I don’t remember that too well either.

However, out of all these memories, there are only two things that I clearly remember. During my turn, I was standing at the very back of the stage on the right during the violin performance in a group of about 20 children. I was made to stand in the back probably because I was the newest and the clumsiest kid of all. Well, that was ok. The other thing I clearly remember is the accident at the end of the song. We played a famous song called “Kōjō no Tsuki (The Moon over the Ruined Castle)”, but I guess I thought at the time that my kid self could just imitate my friends in front and next to me. I recalled the last note of the song, but I think I was so nervous that I wasn’t paying attention to anything that was going on around me. Knowing that it was the end of the song, I raised my violin bow with a light flick of wrist. Oh my...! At the end of the song, everyone around me did the opposite and lowered their bows down by their sides. I was the one who disrupted the group and humiliated my teacher who was also conducting this performance. I realized then that I had made a terrible mistake.

That was the last time I ever touched the violin. Unfortunately, this famous teacher who taught me violin passed away later that year, and I went to the funeral with my mother. Half a century has passed and I still feel sorry for embarrassing my teacher.