Yuka Hasegawa/Paris International Music Academy & Vienna International Music Seminar

Hasegawa: After graduating from Kunitachi College of Music, I worked as a music teacher for eight years, and decided to study abroad this time because I wanted to concentrate on teaching piano and performing.

Hasegawa: I have traveled abroad before, but this was my first time participating in a seminar.

Hasegawa: I decided to participate for two reasons: to gain confidence by building a track record, and to improve my skills.

Hasegawa: At Paris International, there were about seven students in each class. Many students from famous local music colleges were in attendance. At Vienna International, there were about 1 to 7 students in each class, and there were many Japanese students.

Hasegawa: At Paris International, we had lessons for 8 days out of 6, and each lesson was 1 minutes. He was a very enthusiastic sensei. At Vienna International, there were four lessons of 90 minutes each. It was easy to plan my schedule since I already had a plan set for the first day.

Hasegawa: The Pascal Godard Sensei at Paris International was an active Sensei who had a lot of energy and taught us with great enthusiasm. At Vienna International, I was taught by Alexander Rosler Sensei, and he was very gentle and kind.

Hasegawa: In common, I felt that the contrast was clear. The way they played it was also more flashy than in Japan.

Hasegawa: At the Paris International, I spoke French, and at the Vienna International, I spoke German. Both cases required an interpreter, but I have also had direct conversations with sensei in English.

Hasegawa: At Paris International, each class met each other at the beginning, and at the end the class, including Sensei, had lunch together and dismissed. There was an opening concert at Vienna International, and at the end of the last student concert, there was a greeting from the organizer.

Hasegawa: At Paris International, there was a class presentation on the last day. At Vienna International, there was a competition in which two selected people from each class could perform. There were also concerts where people who were not participating in the competition could perform.

Hasegawa: At Paris International, we were told that we could use the flatshare from 10:00 to 19:00, but there were some parts that we had to be careful about, so we practiced in the practice room at the course venue. Basically it was 2 hours, but when it wasn't busy I was allowed to use it all day. At Vienna International, I was able to practice for one hour a day in the hotel's practice room.

Hasegawa: On my day off, I went sightseeing to major destinations.
　　　　　　　

Hasegawa: I stayed in a shared flat in Paris, and in a hotel in Vienna.

Hasegawa: When I shared a flat in Paris, I had a single room and was able to use the kitchen freely. The host was very nice in preparing a refrigerator for me. Hotels in Vienna don't have TVs, just a bed, a shower, and the bare necessities. There were times when brown water came out of the tap, but they cleaned it every day so I didn't have any problems.

Hasegawa: The flat I shared in Paris was in the suburbs, so I tried not to go out much at night. There seemed to be a lot of pickpocketing, so the interpreter and host told me to be careful. English was often not understood in France. I felt that Vienna was very safe compared to France.

Hasegawa: In Paris, there was a supermarket near my accommodation and the course venue, so I went shopping and made sandwiches to eat. In Vienna, the breakfast at the hotel was the same every day, but there was a lot of variety. At night, I went out drinking with friends and went shopping at the supermarket. Eating out cost about 1 euros each time.

Hasegawa: Take the initiative to greet and talk to them! is.

Hasegawa: That moment when I actually took a sensei lesson up close, I realized how different they were even though they were playing the same instrument. Also, I won first place in the competition in Vienna, which made me feel like I have to do my best in Japan as well.

Hasegawa: I was able to overcome many unknown and scary experiences overseas on my own, so anything is possible in Japan! This made me feel like I should take action on my own.

Hasegawa: Food. I don't like bread. They sell rice, but it's Thai rice, and Japanese restaurants were expensive, so I was sometimes naive when it came to food. Also, the public transportation system is more relaxed than Japan, including the system that allows you to ride without a ticket, and the time schedule.

Hasegawa: It's better to know how to say hello and a few words before traveling.

Hasegawa: I plan to appear at local concerts here and there. I'm thinking of opening a piano class in the future.