Our practice room is in somewhere in Niigata....in fact it's right in the centre, 3 stories house. On the first floor, there is a huge music room equipped with the piano (Kawai fluegel), the electric piano, the organ, the cello....countless of music pieces and tectbooks! This room belongs to a lady, Ms. Sawada who is in her 90's and still actively involved in music activity such as conducting choir, teaching the piano lesson, accompanying with the orgen at a church and so on!
What is the connection between her and us.....?
It was on one night in the summer time, one of my friend: Shoko, who worked in Tokyo came back to Niigata. It was after a few months we saw each other last time, so we decided to gather again with some other friends at a Yakitori bar (a Japanese style bar). While we were enjoying Yakitori (grilled chicken), Antarqui and I happened to talk about our music project plan. She looked a little surprised, and told us
excitedly that she had a good place for us to practice for free and even lending the cello! That turned to be her parents' house....! And the onwer of the music room was her grandmom.
Since Shoko had to go back to Tokyo soon, we went to visit her parents without her with a bit of anxiety.... simply because we didn't know her parents!
My concern was soon melted, as Shoko's parents warmly welcomed us. Her father presented his cello to Antarqui, and kindly let him play it. How kind he is! If one takes care of a musical instrument, they normally don't want to let others play or even touch it! So, we could feel that he trusted Antarqui. It was also the best coincidence, because we were looking for a real cello at that time since Antarqui only had an electric one and needed a real one for music events.
We played some music for them using newly lent cello and Kawai piano.
Shoko's mom was also very very sweet......she thought we were hungry so prepared some snacks and plus very very good red wine! After all, we drunk all together and chatted until late :))
Entry: Midori
私たちが普段練習をさせていただいているところ・・・・そこは新潟市内にある、とあるお屋敷。そこには９０代になられる大御所の音楽の先生がおられ、３０ 人以上入りそうな音楽室にはグランドピアノ、電子ピアノ、オルガン、チェロ、そして多数の楽譜や音楽関係の書籍・・・・大御所先生は今でも現役でいらし て、合唱指導、指揮、ピアノなどを教えていらっしゃるのです。
で、どうしてこんなすごいところで練習をさせていただけることになったのかと言うと・・・・実はこのお屋敷、私のお友達のご実家だったんです。お酒が好きなこの友人と焼き鳥を酒の肴に飲んでいると、ひょんなことから、私たちが演奏している話に。練習時にはいつも有料の練習室をお借りしていたのですが、「じゃあ、うちの音楽室使ってよ！」という思ってもみたいお申し出をもらい、お借りすることになったのです。
友人は東京在住なので、初めて練習室に伺ったときには少々緊張しました。おおらかで懐の広い友人だから、きっとご家族も理解のある方なんだろうな、とは思いましたが、やはり人の家は人の家。
初日には練習中に友人のご両親も聞きにいらしてくれて、一緒にお話もできました。応援してくださっているのがすごくわかって、私たちも本当に嬉しかったです。その後、徐々に他のご家族とも知り合いになり、親しくさせていただいています。
私もアンタルキも新潟の人間ではありませんが、こうやって出会う人の縁、新潟の人の温かさにいつも感謝しています。
文責：みどり
