In the middle of the latest disaster being reported everyday, many musicians might think that how they can help this situation, what they can do for others and for themselves.

Recently I watched the opening ceremony of the national baseball games for high school students on TV, and felt strong compassion with the manifestation by a representative of the players. He said, "All what we can do now is to go all out to play nice game!".

Now many people do what they can do, as personnels of the self defence force are trying to convey necessities to the epicenter, while firefighters dedicate themselves in spraying waters over the nuclear power plants.

Then what piano teachers can do, other than cooperations like low consumption of electricity or giving donations? I believe that the most important mission for them is to teach and encourage students, in order to keep enthusiasm and confidence of their music.

Now, the 9th Liszt Piano Competition begins in Netherlands. Former PTNA winners as Masataka Goto (2004 PTNA grand prize winner) and Tomoki Sakata(2009 Yasuko Fukuda prize) will take part in the quater final round starting on March 29th. The daily reports from Utrecht will show the achievements of their efforts, and it would surely encourage our spirits.

-Seikoh Fukuda (CEO and Secretary), from weekly essay on March 25th