Music Scene
380 youthful pianists will play their best
By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Stephanie Shinsato, 15, background, Tyrell Takahashi, 13, and Robert Lee, 12, concentrate as they listen to piano instructor Elsa Seron at Thayer Piano during a practice session for Pianomania. Young pianists from three islands will take part in the benefit concerts for the Hawai'i Music Teachers Association.
Jeff Widener •The Honolulu Advertiser Pianomania 1 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday Hawai'i Theatre, 1130 Bethel St. $7 528-0506 Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Hawai'i Music Teachers Association |
That's how many fingers will be scurrying across piano keys at Sunday's Pianomania concert in the Hawai'i Theatre.
It wasn't easy to coordinate the schedules of 380 pianists, age 4 to 18, from three different islands. But with careful planning, the 28 teachers who agreed to participate in the event somehow have pulled it off. Which is a feat in itself, considering that the last time anyone organized a piano concert this big was 10 years ago.
"It's been a lot of hard work, but when we see the kids so happy and thrilled to see this, it's so worth it," said Kay Goshi, a longtime piano teacher who helped organize the event, which benefits the Hawai'i Music Teachers Association. "They're having a lot of fun. And the experience has taught the teachers a lot."
Like time management.
Many of the pieces will be performed duet-style (two people at one piano), and on more than one piano, by the students, many of whom don't have the same teachers but must play the same piece in harmony with each other.
The concert features several selections, including "Over the Rainbow" and "Music of the Night," to be performed by 28 pianists on 13 pianos.
The big question: How do you get hundreds of kids in one place, with enough pianos, to practice together?
"It's very difficult," admitted Goshi, with a laugh.
The students move through the Thayer Piano studio on Ward Avenue in 30-minute shifts nearly every day of the week, all day long. Fourteen pianos are squeezed into the small studio, which somehow manages to hold about 30 students at one time. The room is so crowded that the parents are relegated to waiting outside.
"It's truly a cooperative effort," said Ethel Iwasaki, a longtime piano teacher with five students participating in Pianomania.
The effort wasn't without purpose.
"We wanted to motivate every student," Goshi said. "That was our purpose. To reach all the students, at all levels, all ages. To give them something to look forward to. Some don't perform regularly, so this is exciting for them."
With the diversity in ages and skill levels comes diversity in selections: classical, modern, ragtime, pop, Broadway. Some pieces are simple, geared for beginners. Others are complex, with students from advanced classes demonstrating the rewards of hard work and dedication.
The participating teachers decided on the songs their students would perform. The earlier concert features 18 selections, including a performance by the instructors. The later concert showcases 17 pieces, including the undisclosed surprise selection by the teachers.
Despite the headaches, the late nights, the never-ending practices, both teachers and students can walk away having learned something valuable in this experience.
"The students learned to care more and work harder so they'll sound better together," Iwasaki said. "They don't want to spoil it for the others, so they work harder. It really becomes a team effort."
Added Goshi: "I learned it takes a lot of work and patience."
