Shinko HANAOKA/ Cello, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / London, UK

The "Listen to Musicians" section is a section where professionals who usually play music on the stage go down the stage and speak in words.We would like to interview a guest, Nobuko Hanaoka, who is active in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the United Kingdom. I would like to talk about the theme of "studying abroad in music."
(Interview: March 2009)

Born in 1971. From the age of eight, he was taught by Takahisa Nakajima, Mari Fujiwara, and Nobuko Yamazaki.After graduating from Toho Girls' High School Music Department, studied abroad in the United States after completing the same diploma course.Received guidance from Ko Iwasaki. In 8, he was invited by William Pries, who raised the legendary cellist Jacqueline Dupre, to enroll in Royal College in the United Kingdom.In addition to him, he studied under Steven Isserlis and Colin Kerr.After graduating from the Royal Academy Conservatory Graduate School at the top, she appeared in the BBC Young Artist Series, Spitafield International Music Festival, etc., Princess Diana Memorial Concert at Earl Spencer's House, and His Majesties the Emperor and Empress at the Victoria & Albert Museum. There is a performance at a commemorative banquet.He also performed as a guest cellist of the Northern Sinfonia, led by Music Director Thomas Zetmeier, and was highly acclaimed.Currently based in London, he is widely active in various music scenes, such as being the first Japanese member of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the United Kingdom.


Hanaoka I started playing the cello at the age of eight and attended the "Music Class for Children" at Toho Gakuen.After working at Toho Girls' High School Music Department, he entered Toho's Soloist Diploma Course.After that, I studied abroad at the Illinois State University and the Royal Academy of Music, and now I am working at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Hanaoka When studying music, I usually rely on sensei, so it's normal to go to the place where the sensei I want to learn is.In that case, it will become more and more like this.When I went to Illinois, I was a Japanese sensei, but that person came to a state university, so I just went there.After that, I received a Rotary scholarship for the UK, so I had decided to go to the UK because of that.

Hanaoka I was lucky.

My sister Hanaoka was learning the violin, and at first I somehow started playing the violin.After that, it was boring to be with my sisters, so I felt like I changed to a cello.

Hanaoka No.I'm doing art-related work, but I'm doing work that has nothing to do with music.

Hanaoka Is it going to happen?It felt like it was a natural path, or as much as possible, in my case.I really want to play the cello!It wasn't like that.

Hanaoka That's right.It feels like it's been here all the time.

Hanaoka We didn't have a TV when we were little.Even if there was, it was an environment where I couldn't see it.That's why I wasn't familiar with pop music and popular songs.In particular, my parents didn't really like classical music, but I had more chances to listen to classical music than other genres of music.

Hanaoka I liked Bach.Also, I really liked baroque and renaissance music.

Hanaoka: Aiming to become a professional is about 10 years old.Perhaps it was around the time I started attending Tohogakuen's "Music Class for Children".In the case of Toho, special education begins before entering high school.

Hanaoka Solfege and listening sounds.This had to be studied a lot.

Hanaoka Yes, it was held every Saturday at Toho's university building.First we listened and solfege, then there was an orchestra.When the exam was near, I went to sensei privately and took a lesson.Not practical, but solfege and listening.

Hanaoka That's right.After that, I went to Toho's music high school.Most of you go to Toho University as it is, but I went to another soloist diploma course, which is a performer training course.By that time, I had already decided to go to the United States, so I spent a year there before studying abroad in the United States.

Hanaoka I didn't want to study abroad, though.When I was in my second or third year of high school, Iwasaki sensei came to Toho's master class.At that time, I thought, "I want to get this sensei!", So I decided to go to America.But maybe it was somewhere in my head that I was vaguely going abroad from a young age.Even if I didn't think strongly when I saw it in my old diary, it was decided within me, or even if I said something, it happened later. I thought.

Hanaoka I want to be like this!I wasn't saying that, but I felt like I just ate it.When I went to England, I suddenly remembered it.When I was in elementary school, I was doing an exchange diary with my friends, and I wrote that kind of thing. Even though I didn't have that much knowledge, "How old did you go to England ..., go to the Royal Academy of Music ..." ".It wasn't the time when the cello was so enthusiastic.There is also such a thing.

Hanaoka: Well, I think everyone has that kind of thing.I was vaguely thinking that I wanted to do something like this, but that's right.

Hanaoka It happened that there was a sensei that I wanted to learn in America.After that, I decided to go to England because of the scholarship system.In the case of the Rotary scholarship system, scholarships cannot be given unless the language of the study abroad destination is spoken.I could only speak English, so if I wanted to go to Europe, I had only England.I was interested in France, but I couldn't speak French.So, in my case, I didn't really want to go there, but in the end it was.

Hanaoka In England, I wasn't blessed with a special sensei, but I feel comfortable.Not only the language, but the atmosphere and life of England, the city of London, and everyone's attitude toward music are comfortable.This is also a matter of course (laughs).

Hanaoka: It's different for each person, and it's that person's choice.

Hanaoka I went to the countryside of Illinois, not a city like New York, even though it was the United States.So, I don't know about music in America as a whole, and I've only been in the two years since I was 19 years old, so I'm not familiar with the music industry ...But it feels like America is America.Classical music is European music, so even for the United States, classical music is foreign music.Classical music produced by Americans is completely different from that produced by Europeans.The type of music is completely different.I think Japanese classical music is also different.However, the children studying in the United States think that it is a big passage point to climb the so-called stardom, so the layer is thick, isn't it?

Hanaoka America is not Europe.Europe and the United States are grouped together, but the United States is the United States.I think that the people who are going to go will be more comfortable with their skin, and it depends on what they want to do.If you want to study the technique thoroughly, I think the United States is also suitable, and if you want to feel the more underlying, scent and blood, it is not possible to go to the United States. is not it.

Hanaoka Yes, but England is also special.Since it is an island country, it is a little different from other countries on the European continent.England is England.If you want to experience music in a more European way, I think you should go to the European continent.For Germany and Austria.Depending on the instrument, France may be good too.

Hanaoka Britain is free and appropriate to some extent.However, there is a fact that the educational method is not solid.In France and Russia, the educational methods are very solid.There is a guarantee that if you do it from the beginning to the end with AtoZ, you can reach a certain point, but the UK does not. sensei doesn't systematically teach me either.Really talented people sometimes come up with pawns, but rarely come out with education.

Hanaoka: I'm not sure about music.It's hard to say this in many ways, but it's hard to say that it's a musically wonderful country.Besides, there is very little support from the country for people who play music.That means it's a difficult city for foreign artists and musicians to live in.I'm here because of my relationship, but when I'm away from music, the atmosphere of the country suits my skin, isn't it?

Hanaoka There are times when you don't know until you go.Even if you bring your dreams to England, you may think that it is inconvenient in terms of life, hmm ... or you can go to a class before deciding. I think it is.

I went to Hanaoka, but rather London was decided. I went once to decide on sensei and school.At that time, I thought I liked it.When I walked on Regent Street, I was excited to say, "Oh, it feels good!"That is also an important factor, isn't it?

Hanaoka It would be nice to go there once.If you're wondering between the UK and the US, I think you should go once, because it's completely different.If you've decided to go to America, that's fine.

Hanaoka That's me.I definitely think Germany is bad (laughs).I know it's great musically, but I don't like it if it doesn't have a bit of a touch.This is a personality, isn't it?Germany is all small in the countryside, and it's not good (laughs).It's different for each person, but I like a little more urban place (laughs).

Hanaoka I think it's an experience to go and fail, especially for young people.It will be washed away soon, so make it your best place.

Hanaoka After all, I think that language learning is necessary.But in that regard, I think it's okay if you're sociable even after you've been there.Because it will be possible.When I went to America, I couldn't even say "How are you?"I wasn't the type to prepare, and it felt like a match when it came out.I wasn't a sociable type either, but I can communicate one-on-one, so in that sense, if I don't like interacting with people, I'll improve.

Hanaoka The first was Japanese sensei.However, I think that the lesson is surprisingly understandable.Because you can play it and show it.Another important thing is flexibility.Flexibility and optimistic thinking (laughs).It has nothing to do with studying abroad, but I think it's the same with anything.

I went to Hanaoka, the university has set up a language school for overseas students.You can't enter the university without a TOEFL score in the United States.I didn't have that, and the score was low, so I went there for the first six months.I lived in a university dormitory and took lessons.

Hanaoka Life hasn't changed much, though.

Hanaoka Yes.It was a normal university.At that time, I wasn't able to speak a language at all, so I took classes that didn't require words as much as possible (laughs).Besides, I wasn't going to be there for about two years, and I wasn't going to graduate.I thought it would be nice if I could take a lesson.

Hanaoka Also, it is important to have communication skills, not language skills.How to interact with people, especially in the United States.

Hanaoka You can't communicate for the first time without speaking the language.If people can't communicate with each other, misunderstandings and things can go wrong.Even if you can't speak a language, if you have the basic etiquette and attitude to communicate, you will definitely be able to communicate.People who can't do that even in Japanese will have problems apart from their language skills.

Hanaoka In terms of life, communication with the landlord does not go well, and that is not only a language problem but also a communication skill problem.After all, work depends on communication.

Hanaoka There is no particular advantage! (Laughs) The disadvantage is the visa!It's very difficult to get a visa in the UK.Recently, it has changed a little, and it seems that even in the orchestra work, I was able to get a visa.That's why Asians and foreigners aren't in the British orchestra.I have no choice but to go home.

Hanaoka Including that, isn't it?In a big sense, the country doesn't pay much for art.That means artists have a lot of trouble.Art is hard to come by without support.It's a business, but it's different from other businesses.

Hanaoka: The artists are protected in terms of working conditions, aren't they?There is no such thing in the UK.

Hanaoka Certainly, it is a charming city, so various financial and cultural things are gathering here.

Hanaoka When I entered eight years ago, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was my first Japanese.I recently joined two people.It's a very recent story.

Hanaoka 9% is British.Musicians aren't saying they don't want foreigners to enter, but because of the national system, they can't.It's a high hurdle, getting a visa.It's a difficult thing.

Hanaoka I'm alive in the world of orchestra so far, so I think that some dexterity is necessary.The reason is that the work schedule is very tight.I don't have time for rehearsals at all, and I have to do concerts with different programs every day.Therefore, it is difficult for people who can only play after practicing hard.It is important to have dexterity and concentration so that you can see it to some extent.After that, I have the courage to go out.

Hanaoka British people are surprisingly Japanese, not so individualistic, but also have group mentality.Not everyone is individualistic like the French, so it's important to have both sensitivity and individuality to build it reasonably.However, I don't have as delicate nerves as Japanese people, so if I get too nervous, I will collapse.That kind of balance is important.

Hanaoka It's surprisingly complicated, and it looks complicated and simple.

Hanaoka To some extent, it's important to have a comfortable feeling.There are many people like that in England.

Hanaoka: It's not suitable for you.I think that's what it means to naturally flow to the place that suits you.If it doesn't match, it won't flow.

Hanaoka Classical music is difficult, isn't it?Because the frame of style and theory is extremely tight.Beyond that, when you can express freedom and beauty, you can create unwavering impressions and big waves.Pops and rock can be done with glue, but classical music can't be done with glue alone.Once you have a solid style and theory, you can create a so-called "magical moment" by adding glue and freedom.It's a world that people around the world can't reach.There are few people who have the talent to reach that point.

Hanaoka After all, I end up in a simple place, but I think I'm happy if I can play the cello freely.If there are people who want to hear it and there is a place to express it, that's fine.I hope that more and more people will want to listen to it alone.You will use your time to come, so I would like to create a place where you can think that time is valuable.Ideally, I can do that through my music and increase the number of places.

Hanaoka I don't know if it's wonderful, but that's the only meaning.That's where it's fun, and of course, as a musician, I have a lot of things in my head, such as "What should I do?"I want to do this, I want to do that.But in the end, it is built on the origin.

Hanaoka If you want to go abroad, I think you should go.But it doesn't matter where you are.After all, it's important to walk your own way, and it's up to you to decide whether it's overseas or Japan.You just have to do what you want to do, and it's important to do what you have in front of you.Sometimes you don't know if you don't do it.Even if I study abroad, I may not like it and will come back in 3 months, but that's fine!At that time, if I'm doing my best, I'll go to my Destiny, so without even knowing myself (laughs).