Suzuki Cello in Japan

We traveled to Aomori for Bear’s cello concert.  She takes Suzuki Cello lessons from a Japanese Sensei who we really admire.  This year, a Suzuki group from Maine traveled to Japan to hold the concert with us.  We were all housed in the Aomori Public College dorms.  We were given two rooms and they were very spacious with a kitchen, bathroom, sitting area, and multiple bedrooms each.  We decided that it would not be so bad to go to college here, except for maybe the language barrier.

Anywhere we go, there is always a vending machine

Traditional tea room

The building itself was lovely, made all of wood and tucked into a grove of trees.  It was a lovely atmosphere for a concert.  We had dinner with the Suzuki students from our Japanese association and the Maine group.  Bear made some friends and joined in a practice.  She is one of two cellos at the concert.  The rest are violin or viola. 

Origami making

American Friends and Japanese Friends

Sitting next to Sensei Inoue

The next morning we had breakfast all together, a traditional fare with miso soup and rice.  We set up for the concert in the lobby of the building, overlooking a huge glass wall to the wooded area.  

Bear played the song that she will perform with Sensei and then she and the other cellist, another American from base, went back into the rooms to practice together.  It was really cute to see them working so well together.  

The music from the rehearsal was floating all around me and it was just such a beautiful morning.  I am so grateful to be here and have these unique experiences in Japan.  Sometimes I feel like I cannot express the feelings of gratitude and deep emotions that wash over me. 

            

While Bear was practicing this morning, Josh took the kids to a tram up the Hakoda mountains where they also enjoyed an alpine slide.  

We all met back together for the concert.  Bear played “Witches Dance” with Sensei and then eight other numbers from book 1 with the violins.  She played the harmony with Sensei and the sound was so rich. 

The girls with Sensei

Bear is a novelty- both being an American and one of the few cellists at these concerts

We ended the weekend with dinner all together. The Maine group prepared many gifts for the students.  They really went above and beyond.  Bear enjoyed getting to know the other players.  This weekend was extremely fulfilling, full of culture, music, friends, and family.