How Japanese Violin players Mika Nishimura are strengthening young minds in India through music

Heavy weekend shower did not gather 140 children at Tata Theater in Mumbai for an exciting program of music and dance. They were participating in the finale ProgressA week’s program, facilitated by Japanese violin player and teacher Mika Nishimura.

Camps held in mid-August brought students from government schools, private institutions and non-governmental organizations together. Starting with a four -day training workshop at Mukkatangan Education Center, it left for a day at Bombay Club before the final rehearsal and grand performance at Tata Theater. Before practicing on hand -made wooden string devices, before infection in real violin and cellos, began before rehearsing in dress formats. He learned new songs and playing him on instruments, having fun. Admission was free and with registration.

Japanese violin player and teacher Mika Nishimura. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

For Mika, this dream came true. She has now been living in Mumbai for more than a decade. He started teaching in Mehli Mehta Foundation of Music (MMMF), and later started a music school, Sol of Sol, seven years ago. ProgressThe concept of three years ago, he and the Spanish-Honduran education projects, is co-produced by Catherine Murillo. It brings students from different backgrounds together on a normal platform. “This idea was to empower children through music, movement, learning and listening,” says Mika.

Born in Fukuoka, Japan, Mika started learning violin at the age of four. He made his singles debut in Tokyo, and later studied at the Franz Listed Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary. In 2006, she moved to Madrid, and studied under Mestro Zakhar Bron.

Students performing as part of elevate in Tata Theater in NCPA in Mumbai. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Mika, who initially trained her mind to become a concert musician with “teaching”, shared the story of how she came to India. “I had moved to Tel Aviv and studied at Buchman-Mehta School of Music. This was the place where I met Mestro Jubin Mehta, who invited me as a visiting teacher in MMMF in Mumbai and trained the teachers here. My plan was for a few weeks for a few weeks, but soon it was felt that I felt that I was soon felt that I was pursuing my career for my career for a few weeks. I can. “

In Mumbai, Mika performed with Soprano Petricia Rosario and Pianoist Mark Troop at the Con Brio Music Festival and The Cool Japan Festival and in the 2018 de Capo Samelon in Goa. During her tenure with MMMF, Mika took 22 Indian violin and Viola students in Japan, where they performed with Japanese students at the Takasaki music ceremony. Their students have also performed at the National Center for the Performing Arts, Mumbai, where they have presented Indian and Australian national anthem as an inaugural act for Zubin Mehta’s Australian World Orchestra Tour.

During her early years in Mumbai, Mika met many children from the deprived background and “wanted to help improve the quality of their life through music. It was an inspiration to start the sound of the soul. The ways of teaching music are the same, whether students come from rich or poor families. Still, at a young age, both have a barrier to play on a general stage.

Mika also saw that children could not stand for an hour. She says, “In music, no one can focus if no one has energy. When I realized the role of nutrition in their training.” Progress Then collaborated with the restaurant 145 to prepare healthy snacks for the participants.

Mika with children at a four -day training workshop at Mukkatangan Education Center. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

After meeting in Portugal, Catherine helped prepare the program. “I am a musician, and he has an engineering background. But the combination has worked because we can come out with new ideas.”

The program also included mentors including Cyprus -based Colombian conductor Santiago Oziet, Spanish Wellness Educator and Athlete Guillermo Diaz, Japanese Nutritionist and Wellness Mentor Eurie and Fitness Instructor and Fitness Instructor and Movement Coach Nitin Chandan. They plan to start the second version of the elevate and take it to other cities. “Elivet is not a traditional music camp. It is a bold experiment that shows that children thrive when they are seen as being able to make, treat and move forward, no matter where they come from when they come from when they come from.