From percussion rooms around the world vol.29 | Emi Smith, Los Angeles, United States

Hello everyone who loves percussion instruments! My name is Megumi Smith.
While performing and teaching based in Los Angeles, I spend every day in a friendly and lively way with my son, who is in 5th grade, and my husband, who is also a percussionist!
It's a lot of trial and error, dealing with not only music but also cultural differences every day, but it's also a lot of new discoveries, which is very exciting.
I would like to introduce you to what kind of activities I have done so far.
I hope you enjoy reading it!

Just practicing is not enough!

When I first studied abroad in Los Angeles, I practiced by myself for 8 to 10 hours straight every day! I can't speak English at all and I'm desperate.
Anyway, all I was thinking about was "improving my skills."

It's been 3 months since I continued living like that. One day, I went to a nearby hamburger restaurant with my friends. But when I tried to order...what should I say?!
My head is blank.
In the end, I managed to order with gestures and pointing (lol).

At that moment, I suddenly thought. I was like, “Oh, is this okay?”
Just practicing isn't enough.
We need to get more involved with the local people and perform together!
From there, my musical life took a big turn.

“I live by music!” was so sweet! ? But now comes the real deal!

Graduated from graduate school with musical skills! ...Although it was a good thing, I was unexpectedly unemployed.
I spent so much time and money and still have no job! ?
It was naive to say, ``I'll have a job after graduating from graduate school.'' While I was in school, no one told me about this reality. But everything is my responsibility.
After graduation,JapanUtilizing my experience as a teacher at the Yamaha Music School, I decided to continue my musical career while working as a music teacher at a private Montessori school.
Incorporating the Orff music method, I also challenge teaching using many percussion instruments! After trying my best for about a year through trial and error, I fatefully came across the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles El Sistema. The interview was justJapanIt was conducted over the phone during the summer when I returned to Japan. As a result, I became involved as a volunteer and temporary lecturer. A year later, I was approached and asked, ``We're starting a new percussion section, so would you like to try it as a teacher?'' Truly a miracle. Moreover, with the support of the LA Phil (Los Angeles Philharmonic), we started by selecting instruments. This process of creating new instruments and programs using the organization's budget rather than my own money was extremely exciting!

Three years later, I was lucky enough to apply for the position of director of the percussion ensemble at Santa Monica College, and was fortunate enough to be given the role. Great opportunities followed, including teaching percussion for the graduate MAT course at the Longy School of Music of Bard College and teaching music history classes for dance majors at Loyola Marymount University. In 2021, he was hired as a percussion instructor at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

By chance, I met Akira Komaki, CEO of JPC, and ended up working as an interpreter at PASIC! Furthermore, starting this year, I will also be in charge of submitting translations for The Percussive Arts Society.
And before I knew it, I had been working with JPC for a long time! I would be happy if we could continue to have fun and create various things together!

A musical path led by connections -- stages of challenge and growth

I have been blessed with a musical background and have had many opportunities to perform. Performing at concerts and events at the university where I teach are all truly valuable experiences! Every time I get a call for a job, I feel like ``I'm auditioning for the next job!'' and I give it my all.

Because of the unique connections we have here in Los Angeles, we sometimes get to perform with super famous artists! When I stood on the same stage as Chicago's Jason Scheff and Bill Champlin, I was surprised and thought, "Really!?"

What's more, working at YOLA offers many dream-like opportunities. Collaborating with LAPhil music director Gustavo Daudamel, performing at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Bowl...all of them are memories that will last a lifetime. Especially on the stage with Los Tigres del Norte, the sense of unity with the audience was more than I expected, and the excitement was so intense that it gave me goosebumps! I realized once again the power of music.

Orchestra instruments may be provided by the organizer, or you may bring your own. I usually go to the venue about two hours before the performance, set up the instruments, and have a meeting with the person in charge of the stage.
Lots of things to do!

Improve yourself in things other than music and connect that to your performances.

When I came to Los Angeles, I started something new. That's yoga.
A teacher I met at the first college I studied abroad, Lynn Verton, who is also a Marimbawan artist, recommended it to me, and we started taking yoga classes together.
At first, the poses were all weird and made me wonder, ``Can the human body do this!?'' (laughs) Moreover, some people in the class were so relaxed that they farted, so each class was new in many ways.

About a month after I started practicing yoga, something surprising happened. In the marimba etude, I had a hard time hearing the sound 4 octaves away, but suddenly it suddenly arrived!
"Eh, what are you doing now? I was able to play it easier than usual!" I looked at Rin in surprise and saw a big smile on her face. Yes, thanks to yoga, my body was starting to move the way I wanted.

Lately, I've been going to the gym 2-3 times a week to keep my body in shape! After all, I realize how important it is to train my body, and when my mind and body are in good shape, I feel more fulfilled every day. Carrying a musical instrument becomes quite difficult as you get older, so building up your physical strength is essential!

And,JapanDue to a chance encounter in Los Angeles, I was able to restart the Urasenke tea ceremony that I had continued for a long time. I happened to be at a music store in Pasadena, and I met a wonderful teacher through the family of the store clerk.
The teacher provided me with food, introduced me to a homestay place when I was having trouble finding a place to live, and was a source of emotional support for me.

During tea ceremony lessons, you learn to empty your mind and concentrate on each movement. This is also connected to the mental preparation when going on stage.
Furthermore, I realized that the idea of ​​``nothing'', which is important in the tea ceremony, is extremely useful when dealing with John Cage's music.

In fact, I was even able to get certified as a kimono Yamano-style kimono instructor! It all started with an invitation from Neil, an American who I was attending a tea ceremony with, who said, ``Let's get certified together!''
Neil isJapanI loved the culture of the United States, and I was also very passionate about music, and at the time I was teaching music classes for the general public at the LA Opera. So Puccini's『Madame Butterfly』When there was a performance, Neil and I decided to give a lecture on how to wear a kimono and how it works.

After that, the Pacific Opera Project『Madame Butterfly』I had the chance to perform as a percussionist at SK KIMONO, and Miko Oshimoto and Kentaro from SK KIMONO, who have been helping me since the time I dressed up, were the design and costume supervisors. It's truly an amazing experience to be able to collaborate with music and kimono in this way.

Yoga, the tea ceremony, and kimono may seem to be in a different world from music, but they are deeply connected in some way. In this way, I can improve myself through things other than music and utilize that knowledge in my performances. I feel that the accumulation of things like that makes my music even richer.

I am grateful for the connections that music has made──
Moving forward by learning and taking on challenges

There are a lot of failures and difficult times, but more than that, I'm grateful for the wonderful encounters I've had through music!
And to my great joy, I have joined the ranks of Dragonfly Percussion as an educational artist!🎉
Furthermore, as a member of The Network for Diversity in Concert Percussion, I am helping to spread the world of percussion instruments! 🥁

I want to continue to explore what I can do and what I really want to do.
I am who I am today thanks to my teachers, my family, and the people I have met and everyone who has supported me.
I can only thank you so much! Long live percussion instruments! ! 🥁