Yuki Beppu's Story

by Janice Tucker Rhoda

When I first met violinist Yuki Beppu, she was a lovely, thoughtful and intelligent child at 4 years old. As she progressed quickly and with such precision through The ABCs of Violin books I knew she was a genius at the violin!

After eight months of study with me, I thought Yuki would benefit greatly from entering New England Conservatory's Preparatory School where she would have regular master classes and recitals with other students of her caliber. She would also be able to take music theory classes and orchestra. She would be in a wonderful atmosphere to reach her full potential! 

I found the perfect teacher for her on the NEC faculty, Kazuko Matsusaka of the Boston Symphony. After contacting her, we agreed to meet at Symphony Hall where Yuki would audition for her. Yuki's wonderful parents attended the audition. I hope it was an experience Yuki and her parents will never forget for I will always remember this unique opportunity for Yuki.

Yuki played extremely well and impressed Ms. Matsusaka very much. Of course she passed the audition with flying colors by playing pieces, exercises and scales from The ABCs of Violin Book 3. Yuki was learning Fiddle Study, a piece I had written which is at the beginning of The ABCs of Violin Book 4 before she moved on to lessons with Ms. Matsusaka. I was happy to see Yuki continued studying this piece and played it at one of her first NEC recitals.

As the years passed I had the opportunity to attend a full recital in the spring of 2008 given by Yuki Beppu in Newton, Massachusetts. She was ten years old. I was thrilled to hear Yuki play very advanced repertoire with superb technique and artistic phrasing. Then and there I knew I had made the right decision about the NEC Preparatory School. Kazuko Matsusaka has an exceptional gift as a master teacher. Also, in November of 2008 Yuki won an NEC solo competition by playing the entire Wieniawski Violin Concerto in D minor. She will play the solo with an NEC orchestra in the spring of 2008.

In the 1970s I had the good fortune to study a total of eight years with Eric Rosenblith, protégé of Carl Flesch, in the NEC Preparatory School and the NEC Conservatory. I am very happy that Yuki Beppu is having this same opportunity with Kazuko Matsusaka.

 
Janice Tucker Rhoda
Author of The ABCs of Strings
Published by Carl Fischer/Presser
www.abcsofstrings.com
abcsofstrings@gmail.com
November 2008