How a "traveling musician" spends his time in a hotel | Marimbist Mika Stoltzman
It all started in Amakusa, a town by the sea
MarineBThe Road to Strike
What kind of image comes to mind when you hear the word "marimba"? It is a wooden keyboard-shaped percussion instrument that produces a warm, deep-seated sound. That is the marimba. Currently, there are many "marimbists" active around the world.Mika StoltzmanShe currently lives in Boston with her husband, world-renowned clarinetist Richard Stoltzman.
Mika grew up in Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture. She started playing piano and the electric organ at a young age, then became interested in drums and taught herself how to play them. She first encountered the marimba at a music college, which she decided to enroll in because of the drums. "I loved the drums, but I couldn't play melodies. When I discovered the marimba, it was an instrument that combined drums and piano, and you could play melodies while playing. It hit me! I immediately started playing the marimba," Mika said. After that, she worked as a teacher at junior high and elementary schools, saying, "I never thought I would become a performer."
However, she was steadily approaching her path to music. She became the advisor for the school's brass band, and through her guidance, she achieved her goal of winning the gold medal at the Kyushu tournament. While she was still searching for her next career path, she was approached by a music college in Kumamoto to take up a position as a lecturer. As Mika was gradually achieving results with her students, it was clear that she was an excellent instructor.
"Right at that time, I had the opportunity to study abroad in the United States for a short period, with the aim of improving my level so that I could teach. However, the teacher I met there asked me, 'Why don't you play?' And suddenly, I felt like a new path had opened up before me." That was when Mika had her "awakening." With that as a turning point, she quit being a teacher and started on her path as a performer.
A second life as a performer is full of ups and downs
However, even after becoming a performer, her base remained in Amakusa. After studying abroad at the University of Toronto for a while at the age of 34, she held her debut recital in New York and Tokyo, finally starting her professional career. She began to travel between Tokyo and overseas. Mika's days were hectic, but a turning point came at the age of 40.
"I met some musicians overseas whom I respected, and I thought I should invite these amazing people to Amakusa to hold a music festival. That's when I met Richard. Drummer Steve Gadd and clarinetist Richard Stoltzman were my "heroes" who I respected very much as musicians (laughs). I invited them and produced the music festival myself." The music festival was a huge event with 2000 people, and it was a huge success! After that, Mika held similar events a total of three times, and while producing, she also began to participate as a performer. Producing was certainly fun, but she was busy and had little time to practice, which was stressful. Then, she finally decided to "improve her skills" and moved to New York.
He reset his established status to zero and started his life in New York from scratch. He strongly felt that he wanted to become a marimba player who could play both jazz and classical music. Mika declares that what prompted him to do this was "just his passion for music." It is not hard to imagine how difficult it was and how much energy it took. That energy helped him establish a new position as a performer, and he also got to meet another "hero," jazz pianist Chick Corea, performing with him at Carnegie Hall in New York and having him write songs for him. It is truly the result of his "passion for music."
She started living in New York at the age of 43, and later married Richard at the age of 48. Since then, she has been able to concentrate on music, and her passion has accelerated. "I eat cereal in the morning, practice, and eat one meal properly at night. The rest of the time I practice. I have my own routine, and I can't give it up to either of us. Maybe it's because I've gotten older, but I'm not distracted by anything," said Mika. Mika has no doubts now. She is serious about music and the marimba, and she gives it her all. She has performed with many famous musicians, but she was particular about her sessions with this respected musician. "You can absorb 100 times more by playing music together than by being taught. I think my desire to perform and improve myself was stronger than anyone else's," said Mika. She especially trusts Steve Gadd, whom she respects, so much that he has produced five albums for her. It's amazing that she continued to convey her passion for the music festival for three years.
"To move people's hearts, you need to have that kind of thought and action. It's important to be passionate," says Mika. She also said that she almost gave up on Bach's Chaconne many times, but she spent three months arranging it and finally made it happen. Her desire to evolve and grow as a musician is what drives her today.
As a traveling musicianHow to spend your time at the hotel
When we asked Mika, who continues to travel around the world to perform, what is a comfortable hotel? He replied,The most important thing is to be comfortable and be able to practice" she replied immediately. During her stay, Mika plans to spend as much time as possible inside the hotel, including practicing. As it is also a place to recharge her energy before going on stage, the most important thing is that the hotel she stays at is a place where she can relax. "In that sense, Hotel GrandBach Tokyo Ginza was the best," said Mika. Having stayed there for about a month during the COVID-1 pandemic, it seems she really liked it. "I was impressed with the hospitality they showed by moving the bed over to fit a marimba in. The room is functional and lovely. It's comfortable, but the sound doesn't leak out, which is great," said Mika.
When asked about the most memorable hotel he had stayed at, he replied, "A hotel in Buenos Aires. It was luxurious, of course, but on Richard's birthday, they casually delivered a chocolate cake made from Clarinet, and the hospitality there was fantastic and it's stayed in my mind."
Apparently the background music playing in the hotel is also important."Bach is... different. Each note is deep. There is a lot to learn from it. Bach's music feels more like praying than performing. When I play Bach in concerts, I change my costume. It's not possible to play on the same vector."
Mika's concerts often involve sessions with various musicians, and the resulting synergy creates an indescribable emotion. Moving from side to side in front of the long, large marimba, Mika plays energetically. To maintain the stamina needed to continue performing concerts, she makes it a daily jog and tries to eat a balanced diet that includes meat, and this is the same even when she is staying at a hotel. Taking care of her body and mind, she adjusts herself so that she can give a good performance at concerts. "Right now, I think I'm producing the best sound possible.
The marimba uses drumsticks to make sounds, so it can be hard to convey what you're thinking, but recently I've been able to play it as if I was hitting it with my hands. It's like I'm making sounds in my mind... I feel like I'm finally able to produce the sounds I want to produce.
After many twists and turns, Mika says that she is now in the best state to blend in with the marimba and produce the sounds she wants. We look forward to seeing her performances in the future!
■Interviewer & Author:
Naoko Kubo | Wellness & Beauty Journalist / Phytotherapist / Aroma Designer / Ayurvedic Life Counselor
CONTACT US Instagram @naonaonaozou/
photograph:
Tomohisa Ichiki