Christmas

I believed in Santa Claus until I was about six years old

I found out it was my parents, because my cousin told me and right after that I found presents in my parents' car.

I remember being shocked. I felt like someone pushed me off a cliff.

However, I pretended that I didn't know until I was in Grade 4

My brother also found out early, but pretend he didn't know either.

My mother said she discovered that I knew when I was seven years old, but she had to hided, because I have a younger brother who still believed in it.

I used to write letters to Santa and leave cookies and juice for him. When I wake up, they were gone, so my parents must have had them.

I still remember, when I was in Grade 2, my classmate were talking about seeing Santa Claus. One girl said "I saw Santa in the park!" and the other boy said "I saw Santa in my dream" I couldn't join their conversation because I already knew Santa was not real. It was funny.

My English tutor told me about secret Santa game, that I think I would hate to participate in it, because I think it is stupid. I wouldn't like a present I don’t want.

I hate buying present for people too, because I don't understand what people want, and I don't want to use my money them.

Christmas is a big deal for many of my friends. For me, Oshogatsu is more important.

Oshogatsu (New Year) is similar to Christmas in Japan, because this is when a family gets together. In Oshogatsu we get fat, because most people eat a lot of carbohydrates, and don’t move. For example eat Soba on the 31^st, Mochi, Osechi, Sushi, and Alcohol.

I can’t wait for a New Year to come, because there will be no school (But we have homework), I can get Otoshidama that is money.

I borrowed a book

Last week, I borrowed a book from my violin teacher.

It is called "The Violin Masterpieces of Guarneri del Gesu" written by Peter Biddulph.

My teacher introduced this book to me after a lesson one day

I knew about this book, but I never seen it before

I was interested in it, because I love looking at pictures of great violins.

I was overwhelmed, because this is a very precious book

This book introduces violin masterpieces made by Guarneri del Gesu who is a violin maker as great as Stradivarius.

However, his personality was different from Stradivarius.

Stradivarius was calm and sensitive; on the other hand, del Gesu was aggressive, that when he was angry, he used his hands. You can see this clearly in his violin.

Stradivarius’ violin does not make any sound unless one plays it carefully and sensitively.

Del Gesu’s violin is very tough, and if a player plays it hard, del Gesu answers back and make powerful sound.  Some says del Gesu is greater than Stradivarius.

Violins in general are named after first player or owner.  For example, Paganini who was the first virtuoso (great violinist) ever, and one of del Gesu’s violin is named after him. There is also Heifetz, which is named after the greatest violinist of the 20^th century.   Heifetz had his own del Gesu and Stradivarius (His Stradivarius is called Dolphin. Currently used by Akiko Suwanai a Japanese violin player based in Paris).

Del Gesu is still loved by many violinists. Mayuko Kamio is a violinist I know personally. She was using Stradivarius before, but she now uses del Gesu after she got it recommended by many people.

I can’t play sensitively, so I would love to get del Gesu one day. If it is possible, I would like to get violins by Stradivarius and del Gesu.

My favorite technology of today.

Hello everybody. I would talk about my favorite technology of today. I have to introduce about technology, because this is my homework.

I have three favorite technologies.

First my favorite technology is a smart phone, because it can be used for chatting with friends, calling, using internet, and emailing, and it can download any application.

World’s first smart phone was made in 1994, that phone is named Simon. However, this phone did not get famous. I think iPhone made by Apples famous director Steve Jobs is the most famous mobile phone, because before iPhone all smart phones were unknown.

Smart phone got popular, so most people use a smart phone now, and many cell phone companies produce many kinds of smart phone. For example, Samsung from Korea is known for Galaxy, this company sells curbed phone, so it is easy to hold.

One of the smart phones with long lasting battery is Igzo, made by Sharp. It can be used for two days without charging.

My second favorite technology is wifi in other words Wireless Fidelity. Now it is everywhere mostly internet I think there are two kinds of wifi internet. Open wifi and locked wifi. Open means without password and locked means with password. However, if you leave your wifi open, you can get your private information stolen.

My last favorite technology is human shaped robot. Honda was the first company to make this.

I think this technology is great, because it lets me imagine the future with robots.

A robot's appearance is become more human like every day. I think they look a little ugly

I think robots will take care of us in the future, because robots improve very fast and will be smarter than us one day.

These are three of my favorite technologies. See you next time.

I changed the phone

Hello everyone today, I have lucky news. I changed my mobile phone, because my old one was broken.

My old mobile phone was made by docomo, named Galaxy s 3. This mobile phone has three features. First feature is a bigger than usual size, so easy to see. However, it doesn't fit in pockets. Second feature is it is very clean LCD screen. The last feature is this mobile phone has many applications.

This phone is not only good things, because this mobile phone has often get computer bug. For example, the application was disappear, and if turn off this mobile phone, it always application is not start up.

The second one is it cannot be charged. I think this happen is crazy! Because if the phone doesn't’ charging, it cannot to using!!

 When happen like that computer bug, it makes me very angry!! So I changed the mobile phone.

My new mobile phone is iPhone 5s. This is a really nice to me, because it is very easy to use.

For example, application's start up is faster than my old phone and no computer bug, and of coerce it can be charging!

The first iPhone made in 2007. Then it evaluated 6 times. I think every time it better than old one.

I think iPhone 5s is very simple than Galaxy, but I think iPhone is very cool.

This iPhone's great feature is it can be fingerprint authentication. I think this is amazing, because other people never release the phone, and I thought fingerprint authentication is rare to me, and I thought it can be only on very high technology machine. I think if other mobile phone has fingerprint authentication, it would be better and quality increasing!

Next week, I would talk about present technology, and see you next week!

I am very ANGRY now!!

Hello everyone. Recently, I am very stressed about school homework.

There are too many assignments and homework right before the important violin competition. I get homework from every subject.

 I do not have enough time, because I must practice violin for the competition.

I have new piece of music given by my teacher which I have to master.

How do manage my time???

I don’t know how to make time for everything.

Ryu Goto is a young musician. His mother is Japanese and his father is Korean. He graduated from Harvard University. He had to study and practice violin that, apparently he only slept for 4 hours every day.

I also know some people who never went to school. These people still succeed as musicians.

Some famous musician can do school work well, but I am finding it difficult, and I don't like them, because it is not interesting.  I want to study about musical grammar, which is a compositional rule of music.

To understand the concept of music grammar you have to know major and minor. Major melody might make you feel happy, and minor might make you feel sad.  Major and minor both have scales.

Scale is any set of musical notes ordered by fundamental frequency or pitch.

Within each scale, there are basic chords made from three keys.

For example, one of c major's chords are "C, E, G (Do, Mi, So) " because C major starts with C.

And these basic cods are already set. When you compose a piece of music, you have to make chords first.

I just explained the basic of music chords, but I still don’t have enough knowledge about music grammar. In order to go to music school to study this, I need to finish high school. So for now, I guess I have to do my homework.

See you next time.

My classmate in my school.

Hi guys! Today, I would introduce my classmate at school.
 I would talk about my four best friends. Their names are Jordi, Yuho, Muhhamed, and Allesio. Jordi is half Spanish, Yuho from in Japan, Muhhamed from pakistan, and Allesio from Italian

Jordi likes his family very much. If he has good events, he always invites me. He is my classmate. When I came to school for the first time, he always came up to me, and he always teach me English. Yuho is Japanese. He started attending CIS when he was in kindergarten.  He very know about heavy metal music and very good to sing. However, he is a shay, so he never song in school.

My favorite teacher in my school

Hi guys! Today, I would like to explain about my two favorite teachers in my school, because this is my ESL homework.

First, I would explain about Mr. G. His real name is Mr. Michael Greenslade

He is a very tall nice man who can speak many languages (English, Japanese, French, and Spanish.) He is teaching Math, English, and Math. (Not every grades.) He is very kind, and interesting, if I don't understand something about school work, he teaches me every time, and he always gives me an advice.

He taught Math and English when I was Grade 7. His class is very easy to understand, because his examples are very funny.

He is a very popular teacher and famous for loving himself. There is a funny story about him. Last December to January, his friends and he went to Okinawa. He loved the food so much he kept eating until he weighs 125kg. He thought this is a problem, so he started the diet. January to February he lost 10kg because he wanted to get chocolate on Valentine’s Day. However, he didn't get any chocolate

The second, I would like to introduce Ms. Moeka Shima

She is a JFL teacher at CIS. She came to CIS this year. She can only speak Japanese, so I think she is only known to among Japanese speakers. She said “I have a big voice.” Because she did Kendo in middle school and high school. She like travelling, so she travels round the Africa last year. She is teaching Japanese to every grade. I wonder CIS is the first international school for her. We like her interesting quiz, but sometimes she gives the answer out by accident. I also like her way of teaching how to remember Kanji.

These are my two of my favorite teachers at school. I hope these two teacher stay next year!

I will have a competition in Oct 20th

Hello everyone. Today, I would explain about history of music competition that I am currently participating in and why I join in this competition.

First, I would explain about competition's history. The competition is called "Student concourse of Japan". It is started in 1947, held by Mainichi newspaper. This competition has five categories of instruments; violin, piano, cello, vocal music, and flute.

Violin, and piano has three categories, elementary school (Grade 4 to Grade 6), middle school(Grade 7 to Grade 9), and high school (Grade 9 to Grade 12). You have to win two rounds of smaller competition held in five cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyushu, and Hokkaido) competition in order to compete in the national concourse. I won the first round in Tokyo already this year, and will be playing for final round to be Tokyo representative on October 20th.

Jury members are different in every city. There are nine judges in each city.

The judges are famous teachers or famous players of each city. However, judging member is every year different.

I have to play three pieces of music. They are

Wieniawski: ecole moderne No. 6

Mendelssohn; violin concert No. 1(Only one movement)

Prokofiev: violin concert No.2 (Only one movement)

Wieniawski is a solo music, so if I make any mistakes, it is easily to know mistake.

Mendelssohn’s violin concert No.1 is really similar to his piano concert, op. 40. This is because someone asked Mendelssohn to write concert for piano and violin. He wrote them separately but these both have same pitches and melody sounds very similar.

Prokofiev wrote this concert in Paris. This is kind of ballet music, and it is very similar to the scores of Romeo and Juliet. The characteristic of this music is that it changes in many way pitch, mood, and rhythm.

I want to win, because if I get a first prize, that means number one of Japan, and concert opportunities might come.
I WILL DO MY BEST

Picture of Prokofiev










                 Picture of Wieniawski

                                                                                                 Picture of Mendelssohn                                                                            

Tokyo strings quartet broke up!

Tokyo string quartet broke up

The biggest news for me is that Tokyo string quartet was broke up. So today, I would explain about history about Tokyo string quartet.

The Tokyo string quartet were start in 1969.  My teacher’s Koichiro Harada was one of the original members.

After the one years of starting, they won Munich international competition 1970 that is first time for Japanese winner. However, members changed 2 to 3 times.

Tokyo strings quartet was based in New York city, started by four Japanese member, but There were non-Japanese members.

They were using Paganini quartet that is which is a set of string instruments (two violins one viola one cello.) made by the most famous violin maker Stradivarius.

Quartet is a group of four musicians it is most difficult genre of Chamber music. String quartet means four string musicians.

The members got old and realized that it is getting too difficult to tour around the world. I was so sad when I heard this news, because I like to play the quartet, so I was respected this quartet, because this quartet is really high level and had world recognition. I will miss the beautiful harmony. 

I starting new blog

I'm start blog again, because I have to write blog every week. That is my one of the homework. However, I am not choosing what I writing about, so I would write what happening in one week.

This week's Monday, I didn't have a school, because that day was my school's holiday. In Tuesday, I went to school little bit faster than usually, because I woke up faster than usual. The first period was music. We sang some canon, then we chose song when we sing Christmas concert. That song is Heal the world.

After the music, we had social studies. First, we got the tests result. My score was not too bad. We doing the print, then finish the classes. The third period was English. We have to do project. We have to create a story that is similar to Cinderella.

Lunch time is after the English. We like lunch time, because we can talk with friends, play game, and we can use computer.

After lunch time, my class mate had a science, but I had a ESL, because I can’t speak English not much. The next period and last period was a Math. I don’t remember what we do in Math class. In this way, the day was over.

In fact, I didnt go to the school Tuesday to Friday, because I had to take a violin video. So I can’t write any more this week. Next day, probably I will write about what happening in one week. See you next week.

My favorite no longer violinists

Hello everyone! Today, I would introduce about my favorite no long here violinists. First, my favorite violinists are Jascha Heifetz. People called "king of violinists" He started violin when he was 3 years old. He teaches from Ilya Malkin, he is a Leopold Auer's student. In 1910, he went Russian music school, because he wanted study to Leopold Auer. After he studied Auer, when he was teen, he came to most Europe for his concert.In 1917, he lived in America, because he ordered to avoid the Russian Revolution. He never gives up to hard practice violin and that he showed interesting. So people mistake Asperger's syndrome. However, he was many amazing original violin skill. For example his bowing speed is faster than other violinist, but when return of the bow, it was very slow and very polite.  Second my favorite violinist is a Jinette Neveu. People called violinist of tragedy, because her life is short time. She was born in France, her mother was a violin teacher, and father was an amateur violinist. When Jinette was young, her mother teach violin to her. In 1930, she went to France music school. After one year ago, she participation to competition in Vienna. When very good violinist Carl fresh was listening her playing, he wrought letter to Jinette's parents, content is a Jinette should go to Berlin for study violin. So her family was moving in Berlin after two years. After four years ago, she participation to competition in Warsaw, she won, then she became star. However, when she was 30 years old, she aboard airplane, it was crashed. When discovered her body, she saddled with her violin. Now, after the 64 years we can’t be more than her. She was very very good violinist.

                                                                                      example of Jinette neveu 

example of Jascha Heifetz

My favorite living violinists

Today I would talk about my favorite　living violinists.
 I love Maxim Vengerov, and Masaaki Tanokura.
First I tell you about Vengerov, Vengerov from  Novosibirsk, Russia. He started violin when he was 5 years old. He learned violin from Zakhar Bron. who is worlds best teacher of violin. I love his play, because of his passion. He change any piece of music in to a passionate piece. For example change simple music played by him. Saddenly become masterpiece. he is experimental in style. 
However, I haven't heard him play live. I will go to his concert in June this year. I am looking forword to it.

Another favorite artist is Masaaki Tanokura. Who is my teacher of  violin, I started learning from him when I was 4 years old.  He is the first person ever in Japan to be concert master of three orchestra. I respect him for his vision and his technique of violin. he is so strict but he is so kind at the same time.He from  I want to play with him one day. 
He start violin when he was 4 years old. he stadied in Amerika, from 
Next week, I would explain about My favorite die violinists. See you next time.






Example of Maxim Vengerov                                                                             




                                                     Example of Masaaki Tanokura

Modern violin's feature

Hi, everyone. Today, I would explain about three characteristics of a modern violin.

First, Modern violin is made about 150 years ago,  so younger than old violin (Stradivarius, Guarneri Del gesu, etc.) so sound is so powerful and clear, but hard to play. If I play strong, sound become dirty. If I play softly, we can’t listen sound.  

Secondary, modern violin is newer than old violin, so state of preservation is pretty good and cheaper than old violin, because I think old violin is valuable, because it can’t be made it.

The lastly, modern violin’s colour is lighter than old violin, because violin’s colour became darker after make about 250 years.

I think old violin is better than modern violin. Because I think old violin sound is a better than modern violin, and easy to playing.

Next day, I would explain bout violin bow. See you next week.

example of modern violin                                example of old violin

Happy for me, and sad for me

On May 3 2013, and May 6 2013, I participated in a violin competition. If I wind the competition, I can join the concert with NHK orchestra. Then I won the competition!

On June 16 2013, I have a concert in Minatomirai hall.

For this competition, I used Alessandro Gagliano’s violin.  

 I am so shock and sad, because I have to give back my rental violin to my teacher, because he has to use the violin in his concert. My rental violin is really beautiful, looking and sounds amazing too. One day, I really want my own great violin.

Next day, I would explain about modern violin. See you next week.

My rental violin and that history.

Hey guys. Today, I would explain about Gagliano, and which I am renting from my violin tutor right now.

Alessandro Gagliano was born in Naples at 1640. He learned how to make violin from Antonio Stradivari and Nicolo Amati, so he lived in Cremona for 30 years. But he came back Naples on 1695.  Meantime,He taught his children how to make violin. His children names were Niccolo Gagliano, and Gennaro Gagliano. Alessandro was didn't stop making violin until his dead.

My rental violin is made by Alessandro Gagliano, this is really good instrument, because really good sounds, big sounds, and looks really good!!

Next day, I would explain history of violin bow. See you week and have a good Golden Week.

Geology of Guarneri family

Hello everyone, do you know Guarneri Family? Maybe, most people don’t know them, because this family was not famous. But they were really important violin makers. So today, I would explain about how important Guarneri family is to the violin industry. 

First, Guarneri family's violin making began with Andrea Guarneri. Violin maker of Guarneri family were in total five people, it is same number as Amati family. 

Andrea guarneri was taught by Nicolo Amati just like Stradivarius

Stradivarius stayed in Amati studio for a longtime and this helped Stradivarius gain his fame.  On the other hand, although Andrea Guarneri's violin was as good as the one of Stradivarius.  He did not become famous because he left Amati Studio after only short period of time.

The most known violin maker of Guarneri family was Andrea Guarneri and Giuseppe Guarneri (Guarneri Del Gesu)

Notable characteristics of Andrea Guarneri's violin were its strong sound and its small frame.

Giuseppe Guarneri (Guarneri Del Gesu) was famous for untidy finish yet beautiful sound.

Example of Andrea Guarneri

Example of Giuseppe Guarneri (Guarneri Del Gesu

Italian violin makers of the 16th to 17th centuries.

Today, I would like to explain about Italian violin makers of the 16th to 17th centuries.
First, refer to this table. In this table find Nicolo Amati, Antonio Stradivarius,  and Giuseppe Guarneri (Guarneri Del gesu) 

This is table of Brescian School, Amati family, Stradivarius Family, and Guarneri Family's table.

As you can see Brescian School had only two students.  Amati family were five people and they were all violin makers.the most famous of them was Nicolo Amati. 

Stradivarius family's violin makers were three people.  This family’s best maker was Antonio Stradivarius. 

Five people of Guarneri were violin makers. This family’s most well known maker was Guarneri Del Gesu.

I think this era was golden age for violin making, because Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri were people who made the legendary instruments.  Next week, I will explain Guarneri family. See you next week.

Amati family and Antonio Stradivarius's profile

Amati family's violin making began with Andrea Amati. Violin maker of Amati family were in total five people, and the family’s famous student were Antonio Stradivarius and Giuseppe Guarneri(Guarneri Delgesu).

First, after completed his violin which the current violin is based on, Andrea Amati got married and blessed with two children named  Antonio and Girolamo.  He taught how to make violin to his two children. When Antonio became an adult, he made up his own violin studio, but he didn't have student, so no one took over his studio after his death.

Girolamo was  married, with one child. His name was Nicolo Amati, he will become a famous violin maker, and his student was Antonio Stradivarius the most respected violin maker in history.

 Antonio Stradivarius was born in Italy (1644~1737). His violins is valued even now, after 300 years.  There is no better violin than a his. Next week, I will explain Genealogy of the Italian violin makers of 16-17 century. see you next week.

                       Example of Antonio Stradivarius

first violin

Today I would like to talk about early history of violin. One of the people who made the first ever violin was believed to be Andrea Amati in 1500s.  He was born in 1505 in Creamona, Italy. Before violin there were some strings instruments similar to violin of today.  Violin was made based on them. Fiddle was one of them. It came from Arabic countries in to Spain than all over Europe. This instrument used in Europe for song and dance. The number of strings was not always the same. Could be 3, 4, or 5 strings.

Another example of instrument prior to violin was viole. Viole was really similar to current violin. The difference was number of strings,  how to play and how to hold it.

 It was often played with violin until1600s, but within only just one century it was taken over by violin. Why did this happen?  One of the reasons could be Amati’s revolutionary violin. Next week, I will explain Amati, his family and His students.

Example of violin, made by Andrea Amati

Example of Fiddle

Example of Viole

I'm starting a blog

Hello I am Taichi. I started this blog today. i'm going to write about violin. I named this blog "addicted Violin" because i love violin. I have been playing violin for 9 years. and I want to be a violinist in the near future. most people think "good violin is Stradivarius" However, violin has so many kinds. For example they could be made in Italy, Germany, UK, France, and Japan. but actually they could be made anywhere.
From today, I will write about "Good Violin" every week. Next week I will write about early history of violin. Come back again!