Sana UENO / A student of Prof. Christoph Braun, Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg, Germany

Born in Osaka.He started playing the trumpet when he entered junior high school and the brass band club, and studied under Hiroaki Hayasaka when he was in the first year of high school.After graduating from high school, he became a trumpet major in the Faculty of Music, Soai University, and continued to study under Hiroaki Hayasaka.Take André Henry's lessons multiple times while still in school and after graduation.In addition, he attended Thomas Hooten's public lessons and academy. In 1, he received the highest award and the Hyogo Prefectural Governor's Award in the brass instrument C category of the 2015th KOBE International Music Competition.Appeared in the same tournament gala concert.After graduating from Soai University, he won the Student Director's Award and performed at a graduation concert on campus.Appeared in the Kansai Trumpet Association rookie concert.
After about two years of freelance life, he moved to Germany in 2. He attended Hamburg Konservatorium in Hamburg for a year and took lessons from Jan-Christoph Semmler.After that, he moved to Lübeck, northern Germany, and took a lesson by Matthias Krebber for one year. From the fall of 2017, he will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Music University of Nuremberg and study under Professor Christoph Braun. Scheduled to graduate in the summer of 1.
What was your musical experience before studying abroad?How old have you been?
Ueno: As soon as I entered junior high school, I joined the brass band club and chose the trumpet.
I continued club activities until I graduated from high school, and then I entered the Faculty of Music at Soai University.
It's been 2 years since I studied abroad in Germany after gaining experience in various places as a freelancer for about 4 years after graduation.
Ueno: After graduating from university, when I played various songs in various places, I realized that there were still many things I was missing.
Also, if I want to continue studying, I once wanted to go to Europe, the home of classical music.
From the time I entered university, I vaguely wanted to study abroad, but at that time I had a strong admiration for Europe, and I started thinking about it in earnest after graduating from university.
What was the deciding factor?
Ueno: I think that the most important thing when taking an examination is contact with sensei, so I contacted various sensei to listen to the performance and take lessons. rice field.
I thought that the current atmosphere of sensei and the school would suit me very well, so I told sensei that and then decided to take the exam.
However, the biggest challenge and goal was to enroll in a graduate school somewhere and stay in Germany to continue studying, so I took several other schools.
I was really happy that I was able to pass the current school.
I learned that it is important to convey the will and enthusiasm of "I want to study here" because many examinees gather from various countries aiming for one or two seats.
Ueno: In my case, what I found difficult when taking the exam was to stay calm and concentrate on the exam in an unfamiliar place while traveling for a long time or staying at a hotel. was.
In order to alleviate that, it was very important to visit the school in advance and meet with sensei, and after all I didn't know where to go for the first time and I felt extra tension, which affected the exam. It was a pity that it came out.
Delays and cancellations occur quite frequently on German railways, so it is recommended that you take the test the day before and keep it as calm as possible.
Ueno: When I was studying abroad, I didn't know right or left, so I had a little difficulty in everything from resident registration, mobile phone contracts, and visa acquisition.
It is not uncommon for city hall and foreign bureau staff to change what they say.
All of these are important procedures related to life, so if you are worried about your language and have an acquaintance who can speak German or English, I think it is certain that you will be helped.
Ueno: I suddenly got a chance and decided to study abroad, so I think it was only a few months ago that I started preparing properly.
Until just before departure, I was fluttering and was busy with procedures in Japan and mailing of luggage.
Ueno: For the first two years, almost all of my parents helped me.
It was a study abroad program that I decided suddenly, and I wasn't saving money for that, so my parents wouldn't be upset.
From the time I was able to enroll in graduate school and settled down until now, I have earned tuition and living expenses from lessons for children.
It's difficult now because of the influence of Corona, but I'm grateful that international students also have ways to make money, such as part-time jobs at restaurants and lesson teachers.
Ueno: I was ashamed to say hello to Germany.
When I think about it now, it was a courageous act, but thanks to the kind people, I don't think there was a big problem.
I attended a language school three times a week for a year and a half and obtained the B1 level required for the exam.
However, if you can learn a language, you will be able to take lessons smoothly, you will not have any trouble in your life, and I think that you should have studied in advance as much as possible even if you are self-taught.
Ueno: Since the school is relatively new, I get the impression that everyone is learning freely while incorporating new things, rather than having a traditional history.
It is quiet and lonely now due to the influence of Corona, but before Corona, there were concerts of various genres in the courtyard and cafeteria, and even in the case of Corona, students' performances were uploaded to SNS every week at Christmas.
Most recently, students from various majors have been doing things like guerrilla performances and posting them on SNS all over the city, which gives students the opportunity to perform in public. Also, the people in the city are pleased.
I am studying in a very homely atmosphere.
Ueno: I think that there are the most stringed instruments, but even so, there are not 10 people, and even if I understand that it is a wind instrument, there are about XNUMX or XNUMX people.
I think there are several piano and vocal music departments.
Even in the same Asian region, Japanese people have a much smaller impression than students from China and South Korea.
Ueno: In terms of life, it's a sense of distance between people.
There are more greetings, chats, and mutual help between strangers than in Japan, and there are more things that can be helped in the city, and conversely, more people are willing to help people than before studying abroad.
It's not that Japanese people aren't kind, they think too much and care too much, while Germans don't be afraid to be rejected or withheld and act first. It is an image of being.
What makes the most difference at school is the small presentation class in a class every week.
Right now, we divide the number of people in half, but every week we are given the opportunity to play any song we like, such as solo songs and etudes, in front of the trumpet class students and sensei, and get their own comments.
It's a great opportunity not only to praise you, but also to point out what you need to fix, the pitch, and the details that you don't notice.
Of course, on the contrary, when I comment on other students, I honestly try to say what is good and what should be fixed.
Ueno: Individual lessons are not much different from Japan, but anyway, I think that playing with confidence the playing styles and musicality that I have learned will lead to fruitful lessons.
I was modest and passive, especially at the beginning, so sensei often told me to "get more out of myself."
If you don't do that, you won't get the personality you have.
He points out points that need to be changed, and every day I realize that it is important to express without fear.
The only thing I can prepare in Japan is to practice the songs and etudes I want to study to the point where I can take them to the lessons.
It's a waste of time to always have the same songs, and I don't know which song I'm playing when I have bad habits or good points, so it's better to have more choices of songs for sensei to listen to. I think it's good.
Ueno: Assuming that every sensei is a wonderful trumpeter, I decided which school to take after carefully considering whether I like playing that sensei or how to take lessons.
Sensei who speaks sensuously, sensei who teaches detailed practice methods, sensei who listens to an example anyway.
I didn't know which lesson method would suit me until I actually took the lesson, so I think it was important to meet you anyway.
Ueno: I'm practicing at school because the house I live in now can't play musical instruments.
Now that the practice time is limited due to the influence of Corona, sensei has taken care of me so that I can practice at the church near the school.
When the corona became popular, I thought about returning to Japan due to the problem of the practice place, but the opening and closing of the school changes depending on the week, so I'm really glad that I was able to stay in Germany.
Ueno: I had the opportunity to play with other brass students in the center of the city about twice, and to play at the Christmas market at Christmas.
School events include orchestra performances and opera performances in off-campus halls.
Currently, there are few concerts, but there are opportunities to perform at church worship little by little.
Without Corona, I think there are many concerts a year on and off campus.
Ueno: Classes usually end in the morning.
There are individual lessons, accompaniment lessons, ensemble lessons, etc., depending on the day between 9:00 and 13:00.
So I go to school at 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning to warm up.
In the afternoon, I practice ensembles, and when I have a place to practice on an empty day, I practice individually, and I usually stay at home in the evening.
I have free time, so I'm often preparing for a graduation concert now.
Ueno: Regarding the opportunity to perform, sensei may give information to the class all at once or ask for personal information.
I think the best way to get to know a professional is to audition and belong to an orchestra academy, but there are barriers such as age restrictions and the fact that you cannot audition unless you are invited.
Ueno: The biggest difference is the sense of distance from sensei.
When I was studying in Japan, sensei was an absolute existence for me, and I was passive trying to absorb everything, but since I came to Germany ... I can't do that yet, but others The students of the school discuss unacceptable opinions, suggestions, and differences in musicality without swallowing them, and I also have more opportunities to actively ask questions and discuss with sensei.
Instead of just waiting for "what should I do" and imitating what I was told, I try to play "I think this, so please listen once" and point out.
Compared to before, I think that independence has emerged.
Ueno: It's difficult now, but I liked going to cafes, shopping, and eating together with my friends.
Nowadays, it's stress-relieving to just stroll around the big parks and cities in the neighborhood.
After that, I bake sweets, exercise, watch movies, and so on.
Ueno: I don't know the knack clearly, but anyway, everyone listens to me in poor German, so I think it's important not to be afraid to speak from yourself.
I'm often told that it's not good to be too reluctant.
Ueno: I always choose a share house to keep the rent low, so compatibility with people who live together is important.
If you don't have to worry too much about the rent, you can find a vacancy relatively quickly because the student apartments, which are a little expensive, come and go very often.
However, finding a home that meets various conditions can be a daunting task.
Even for Germans, finding a house in Germany is not easy.
Even in the case of a share house, as soon as recruitment is made, 10 to 20 people will be flooded into one frame.
During the tour, I was desperate to appeal that I like beautiful things, are friendly, and although I am Japanese, I don't have any trouble communicating.
There are several sites to find a place to live, which is very convenient, but please be careful as fraudulent properties are sometimes confused.
Ueno: In my case, the rent is about 300 €, the monthly insurance premium is 100 €, and the expense for purchasing other ingredients is 10 to 20 € once a week, so if there is no extra expense, it will be less than 500 € a month. I think it's about.
It is helped that the rent is kept at this low price including all the utility bills.That is the advantage of a share house.
Ueno: It was when I felt my growth in terms of musical instruments.
By taking lessons, I was able to do things that I couldn't do before, and when the range of expression was widened, I'm glad I was able to reach Germany all the way.
Other than music, I am happy when I encounter beautiful scenery and buildings that are unique to Germany, especially churches and cathedrals.
Ueno: I think the biggest change is the presence or absence of positiveness.
If I didn't take positive action, I would regret it when I finished studying abroad, and I often forced myself to inspire myself even when I was worried.
After that, I think that I should have learned the good points of other people and the flexible mind to accept the points I received, but it is only after studying abroad. I think I have some spare time to do it.
Ueno: Originally, I was studying abroad because I wanted to live up to my expectations when playing in Japan, and I wanted a technique that allowed me to play freely, so once I graduated from graduate school, I would like to return to Japan and have the opportunity to perform in Japan. I plan to challenge from scratch again.
I've been away from Japan for four years, so I'm worried, but now I'm full of the desire to play music with someone.
After that, I would like to convey what I learned in Germany to various people.
Ueno: I think it should be clear why you want to study abroad.
Even if you just want to study music in Europe, if that is your heart's desire, you will be able to move naturally and find opportunities and places to study.
For long-term study abroad, we always have visa issues, so we need to always be clear about how long we want to stay in the country, how we will stay, and what the costs will be.
I was lonely and sometimes felt uneasy about the future, but the consciousness that "I have a special opportunity with the help of various people" helped me.
I want you to cherish "what you want to do and cross the sea" without being distracted by the opinions of those around you, as compared to the people around you.
Ueno: If you have any problems or questions, please give us immediate solutions and answers.
Sometimes, if it's not something that can be fixed immediately, but if it's something that you have patience with, please let me know clearly, and if the first solution doesn't work, then the second, third, and so on, a lot of withdrawals. It is very encouraging because I have.
Not only will you praise them, but they will also deal with the bad things, so you can feel the growth and improvement.
It is sensei that faces each student and eliminates any anxiety.