From Percussion Rooms of the World Vol.17 | Frankfurt, Germany Fumika Namba

My name is Fumika Namba and I am currently enrolled in the master's program at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. I am very happy to have had this opportunity. I hope that you can learn a little bit about my life in Frankfurt, where I studied abroad, and the music college (and about myself), and I hope that it will be helpful for students who are thinking about studying abroad.

What kind of place is Frankfurt?

Frankfurt am Main is Germany's fifth largest city in the state of Hesse, with a population of approximately 760,000 people. The scenery lined with skyscrapers has been compared to Manhattan in New York, and the view from the Main River that runs through the city is sometimes called ``Mainhattan.'' I believe that attending many concerts is extremely important when studying in Europe. Home to the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Frankfurt Opera House and Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt offers many opportunities to hear top orchestras, opera and contemporary music. It was the perfect study abroad destination for me as I wanted to learn both orchestral and contemporary music in a well-balanced manner. In addition, the world's leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, and Vienna Philharmonic often visit for performance tours, so you can experience the legendary performances produced every day without leaving here.

What led you to study abroad?

I have always had an interest in studying and living abroad. When I was a junior high school student, recitals by Isao Nakamura, professor of percussion at the Karlsruhe University of Music, were frequently held in my hometown of Okayama, and each time I went to hear them, my interest in studying abroad in Germany deepened little by little. ``First of all, I want to learn a language!'' I decided to study at YFU for a year starting in July of my third year of high school.JapanAs part of the Japan Foundation's exchange program, I studied abroad in Frankfurt Oder, a city near the border with Poland. While studying abroad, I studied German while attending a regular high school, and traveled to various cities in Germany with my friends and host family.JapanI experienced a different culture and lifestyle. There is no doubt that through this exchange program, I became familiar with the German language and life in a foreign country, which helped me prepare for my current study abroad.

About life at Frankfurt Conservatory

Frankfurt College of Music is located in the city center and offers departments for studying musical instruments and singing, as well as dance and drama. There are especially many opportunities to engage in contemporary music, and on the first Tuesday of every month, a 30-minute concert is held that introduces contemporary music and performance from a wide range of perspectives. After the concert, a discussion session will be held, and many students, mainly those in the composition department, will participate. I also played Luis Antunes Peña's ``Music for 30 Cymbals and Electronics'' right after school started. The process of finishing the performance through direct dialogue with the composer and the discussion after the performance were full of fresh learning and fun, and my interest in contemporary music deepened. In addition, there are collaboration projects between the student orchestra and Ensemble Modern, giving students the opportunity to experience contemporary music works not only solo but also with orchestra. In addition to solo lessons, there are weekly orchestra study lessons with timpanist and percussionists from the Frankfurt Opera Orchestra, as well as drum lessons. Since you will be taking lessons from four different teachers per week, your week will be very fulfilling and the time will fly by. During the year, several professional orchestras hold auditions for regular members, contract members, academies, and interns. There are age restrictions for academies and interns, and in some places you can only audition up to the age of 26. For this reason, especially during my first year studying abroad, I practiced orchestra a lot in preparation for the audition, held review sessions with my classmates who were also auditioning, and consulted with them about how to practice. We work hard every day by sharing our own practice methods and new ideas with each other. At Ensemble Modern Academy, where I will be enrolled next, I will study contemporary chamber music. Although it is a short period of one year, I am looking forward to new encounters and will continue to push forward to further expand my knowledge!

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Fumika Namba Profile

Born in Okayama Prefecture. Graduated from the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts. Upon graduation, he received the Doseikai Award and the Acanthus Award. Completed master's program at Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. 2019 Bavarian State Theater Orchestra Coburg trainee. International Ensemble Modern Academy student from October 2021. Percussion Tree member.