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Hi, everyone.
My name is Mayu Kishima. I am a violinist.
Today I would like talk about
how I faced with
music and violin
in my life.
I met violin
when I was three.
The first violin that I took in may hand
was one sixteenth of the violin I've just played,
It was really small. It was just like a toy.
Rather than playing outside with my friend,
or watching TV,
I loved playing violin.
Ever since I was little,
I wanted to be a violinist, and I didn't see any reason why
I couldn't be one.
That doesn't necessarily mean I've mastered a difficult piece at very young age,
I was rather a clumsy kid.
But I thought that I really wanted to do this,
I thought that I should never give up,
I believe those created confidence in me.
I was so happy with my encounters with good people
in my music life
I met my first teacher, Ms. Izumi Hayashi
at the age of three.
She said that she had never taught a child
as young as me, but she said she would try,
and she opened the door to a life with music for me.
And she has
also made me
fascinated by violins
I always liked violin
but I never liked practice.
I used to think about
is there any way to
become a better player without practice.
Practice is not always fun to me,
I used to wonder how will I endure everyday of practice,
and finally I always reach to a simple answer:
There is nothing you can get better without practice.
But instead of 6 hours practice regarded as a standard,
I spend 3 hours of really intensive practice
and I spent the other 3 hours
immersed with beautiful thing I really love,
such as a scenery I am fond of, sweet colors,
things I really feel beautiful and wonderful,
I believe those 3 hours have created
ideas and inspirations in my music today.
An idea of going overseas to study music came across to me,
when I was in the 4th or 5 th grade.
That's probably due to the experience I had
in Europe and in America,
I saw students over there, learning music in nature,
very relaxed and freely and full of joy.
I could not stop feeling that
I wanted to learn music in such a place,
I wanted to live in such a place.
At first, my parents did not allow me because I was too young.
They thought I should finish my junior high school in Japan.
I begged my parents for me to visit Germany.
I met Mr. Zakhar Bron there, then all of a sudden,
my visit to Germany to study music was realized.
The decision was in such a rush that
we knew nothing about where we live,
what place we are going and what school we will go to,
and also we could not speak German.
When I left for Germany with my mother,
I only had a belief that as long as I have my violin, everything will work right,
After I arrived in Germany,
I was surrounded by many good and warm people
who really supported us.
Although I could not speak German, I adapted to the school naturally.
I was just filled with joy and happiness
to be able to come here.
That was my days in Germany.
Music gave me the power to overcome
the challenge which seems impossible and difficult
without music.
Music turned it into big hope and power
making me move forward and enjoy everything.
After going to Germany, I visited many countries,
the United states, Europe including Italy, Germany and France,
I also visited Israel.
Violin took me to all the places around the world.
I often got asked in an interview
what is the hardest thing, hardest struggle in my life.
I little have the feeling that I had difficulties or I struggled.
It is natural to me to put all my life to
what I wanted the most and what give me the highest joy.
I am thankful to be in a situation that I can just focus on violin.
I am also thankful to my parents
who devoted everything to support my dream.
It is not too much to say that
they built 80 percent of my music today.
I think if we believe in something
and face it with your whole body and spirit,
the dream will certainly come true in some day.
There is something I would like to tell
kids in Japan who will make the future of this country.
Never spare your dream and hope,
Please have your clear vision and
until it becomes reality, just move forward with your body and soul.
Then the challenges and difficulties on the way
should turn into
the power and joy to move you forward.
I hope you believe there is nothing impossible in your life,
that belief will give you an incredible power.
Thank you. (Applause)