Interview with Hiromi Motomiya

Hiromi Motomiya was born with her left leg handicapped. Since she was a child she always wanted to become a musician. Even when she was little, she wanted to perform as one of the world’s splendid musicians. So she listened to lots of music, studied and imitated it.

However, one day I felt a terrible emptiness. This was, when I noticed that I has never played my original sound and music yet…..

Hiromi, it is a pleasure to meet you. When you were born there was a problem with your left foot. Can you tell us about it and how did it effect you as a child?

My left foot disorder is congenital dislocation of the hip joint. I was born without part of my hip joint. When I was 4 years old I underwent a number of big operations. My left foot never recovered completely so I could not exercise. I was always absent from physical education classes when I was a child and I have never played sports or run with my friends. I always had sense of estrangement.

However, now, I think that my left foot disorder made it easy for me to  decide it to become a musician . I am very thankful for my left foot disorder now.

How did you first discover your love for music?

I was convinced that what I could do was only music, because I became aware of my left foot disorder when I was 4 years old, and I understood that I could not play sports throughout my life. The music let me forget sadness of the real world. When I listened to or played music it was a really happy time for me.

Were you formally trained? Do you have musicians in your family that supported your learning?

Yes I learned about music in the University, I am also trained in flute by many professional flutists in the world. I have no musicians in my family.

How did you choose the flute? Do you play any other instruments?

I discovered the flute in my elementary school days and fell in love at first sight. I also play the Japanese bamboo flute (Shinobue), the Samisen, the Piano, etc… but my most favorite one is Flute!

You would listen to a lot of music then. What types of music did you prefer and who were some of the musicians that influenced you?

Yes, I listened to a lot of music. I studied classical music but I like the music of any genre, too. For example, Blues, Rock, Latin music, Irish folk song, Japanese folk song and so on. In the future I want to listen to and study more music. Some of the musicians that influenced me are James Galway (Fl), Jean-Pierre Rampal (Fl) , and my band members, Ash（Gt）, Mr. Taka (Gt), and Takahiro Terao（Bass).

Tell us a little more about how you felt when you first discovered your music deep inside you?

For the first time in my life I started to meditate only on the sound that was inside myself. I threw away all the fixed ideas that I gathered. I wanted to play the flute with genuine enthusiasm. When I closed my eyes and played the flute, my whole body was resonating, and I cried. It was at that moment that I felt “I live now” for the first time in my life.

This sensation convinced me that I was the origin from where I played my sound of music. I decided to face my emotions and play the music that only I can play.

You compose and write your own music. What is your creative process? Where do you find your inspiration?

I find my inspiration from nature. My home country ”Niigata” haa a lot of natural areas. It is very very beautiful!! Niigata has four seasons and I would look at nature every day. Nature is always with me. So the theme of my own music is nature and my feelings. I think people’s feelings are all similar in regards to nature no matter where they are from.

Tell us a little about your CD “Ibuki”.

I compared the change in nature to my feelings and created the music for this CD. Ibuki means ”Breath” in Japanese. I hope my breath playing on the flute touches your heart.

How do you like performing live as opposed to working in the studio?

I love performing live! I am happy when I get to meet many fans face to face. That time I feel ”I live now”. Please check it out!!

”IBUKI” live version

”Choro” live version

”Tsuki omoi” = Feelings of moon

Is there any musician that you have always wanted to collaborate with?

There is no one specifically but I want to collaborate with splendid artists of every genre all over the world.

You are also a music and flute instructor. How do you like teaching and do you have any students you find very talented?

Before I was a flute instructor I was a kindergarten teacher, an elementary school teacher and a music teacher at a Junior High School and High School. I teach my students using my experience and knowledge . However, what is the most important is not only to have the experience and knowledge but to learn about each student and understand them and their needs and desires.

All my students have talents. The problem is how to make good use of their talents. I think  it is my duty to support them.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

I enjoy watching movies, reading, going for a drive, praying at a Shinto shrine ….and so on.

Where can we go to find out more about you and your music?

My HP: Hiromi Motomiya Flute site
http://otonohako.co.jp/h-motomiya/index.html

You can get my first CD” Ibuki=Breath” from at these links:

amazon.co.jp
http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/switch-language/product/B006GZCJPW/ref=dp_change_lang?ie=UTF8&language=en_JP

cdbaby
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hiromimotomiya

Facebook Hiromi Motomiya fanpage.
http://www.facebook.com/motomiyahiromi

Youtube
Ibuki
http://youtu.be/EMhmpCv_imk

Choro
http://youtu.be/Z4Z0Acvq0Xk

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