Kyoka Haguri / Mozarteum University of Music Summer International Music Academy & Language School

Haguri: I am currently a third year high school student and am thinking about going to a music university overseas. Her mother is a vocalist, so she was exposed to music from an early age, and has been playing the piano since she was around 3 years old.

Haguri: I attended a seminar in Vienna when I was in the second year of junior high school.

Haguri: Because Christopher Hinterhuber sensei was there as a professor at the seminar. I even took online classes with a professor at the university I'm aiming for. She likes Sensei's teaching methods and music, and would like to learn from Sensei in the future.

Haguri: There were about 13 people in the sensei class. There were 3 Japanese people, and I got the impression that most of them were from China and many were of Asian descent. The age range was from around the same age to older.

Haguri: I took four 60-minute lessons.

Haguri: He was a kind and gentlemanly sensei. He is a person who takes music seriously, and when I asked him questions, he answered seriously. The training staff spoke English and were kind.

Haguri: When I took lessons on Chopin's music, I really liked that they taught me technical aspects such as how to use my arms and how to move my fingers, as well as musical aspects such as the detailed content of the music. is.

Haguri: I had a lesson in English. Some students were also taking lessons in German.
Haguri: On the last day, there was a concert for selected students in which about one person from each professor's class was selected to perform.

Haguri: There was a class concert on the fourth day, and all the students performed a 4-minute song in the hall. Although it is not a concert, you can listen to all the lessons for all the instruments, so even though you are not on stage, it feels like someone is listening to you even during the lessons.

Haguri: I had reserved a separate practice room, but I was also able to use the university's practice room. By making reservations through Information, there were times when it was difficult to make reservations, such as after lunch, but it was easier to make reservations first thing in the morning and in the evening. Changes were possible.

Haguri: I often attended the lectures. Since I was able to attend lessons on other instruments, I also attended vocal lessons. In Vienna, where I attended a language school, my schedule was practice and language school on weekdays, but on my days off I went sightseeing and shopping.

Haguri: There were many people in Salzburg as it was a music festival period. The city is also beautiful. In Vienna, I had the opportunity to interact with local people, and although I tried my best to speak German, they listened carefully to me and often helped me.

Haguri: I stayed in the student dormitory at the Mozarteum.

Haguri: The room had a kitchen, shower room, bed, desk, and shelves, and we used the kitchen to make breakfast and dinner. There was a washing machine in the laundry room, but I washed it by hand. It's dry, so I let it dry at night and it was almost dry in the morning.
Haguri: We traveled by bus. It was easy to get to the school as it was close to the bus stop. I was surprised to find that local buses sometimes do not stop at the bus stop, which is something that would never happen in Japan.

Haguri: There was a sandwich shop right in front of the university, so I went there to eat with some friends from my class. I also went to restaurants in Vienna on the weekends. Due to the weak yen, I was surprised that it cost about 2 yen for two people to eat a hamburger.

Haguri: I think it's important to properly convey your opinion.

Haguri: When I was in Salzburg, I got pickpocketed and had to go to the police. I was glad that the local police responded politely, but I felt that we should not behave in the same way as in Japan.

Haguri: Being surrounded by people who are seriously studying music, I was able to share my concerns and receive a lot of advice. It was a moment when I realized that it was a good thing that I was able to meet someone that I could keep in touch with even after I returned home. At the language school, everyone learns with a goal in mind, so I was able to learn in an environment where we could all improve each other, such as by trying our best to converse in German with friends during breaks, and it was great that my motivation for learning the language increased. is.

Haguri: Up until now, I have often been passive, but by studying abroad I learned that I have to express my feelings, and after returning to Japan, I have started to express my feelings properly. In terms of music, studying abroad made me feel that I was lacking in the aspect of being particular about the sound, and I realized that I need to work harder in the future.

Haguri: In Japan, if there is a foreigner nearby who is in trouble, many people will speak to them in English, but in Austria. Even people who appear to be foreigners will speak to you in German. Could you speak English? Even when I told them, they responded in German. LOL English is considered a universal language, but I felt that if I wanted to live in Austria, I would have to be able to speak German.

Haguri: It is definitely better to study the language. I think that would allow for more detailed communication with Sensei, and we would be able to deal with any problems that may arise. Also, it is quite cold in Salzburg from July to August, so it is better to bring something that can adjust the temperature.

Haguri: I plan to study abroad after graduating from high school.