One month has passed since the earthquake occurred in the northeast of Japan, and PTNA members living in surrounding areas are still suffering from the aftermaths. The restoration is still on the long way. But they don't relinquish their passion for music, and are trying to do their best to regain their music lives. We would like to introduce what the local teachers are doing in the last one month.

1.PTNA Piano Competition regional rounds will be held in some part of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, with a few changes in dates and locations. See here.

2.'Sendai Orihime Station'(representative :Sonoko TAKEUCHI) organized a seminar for PTNA Piano Competition on April 10th. This seminar was originaly scheduled, but eventually it became a special charity event for the earthquake. The lecturer Yuriko HIRAMA, living in this city, started the seminar with Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", performed with one of her students. Contributions of 74,550 yen were donated to Japanese Red Cross Society.
Ms.Hirama (photo) addressed in the seminar; "It might be difficult for people in northeast area to get back into playing piano again within 1-2 years. After this earthquake, we became aware that nature is such awesome and threatening thing, and how fortunate we are to be alive now. I would like to support those who cannot resist to play, to express their joy of being alive, and to embrace their precious lives, through music".

3.Mitsue SOEDA (representative of Namie Station, recipient of PTNA teacher's award for 23 times), evacuated from Fukushima to Tokyo, is giving lessons to students for the preparation of PTNA piano competition. "This hardship brought me an opportunity to feel more sympathy to other people. I have always been involved in music, and this commitment gave me great encouragement to move my life forward, with hope and aspiration, even under the unforeseeable circumstances". 

4. 'Iwaki Station'(representative: Yuko HOSOBUCHI) decided to change the date of STEP from June to December. Nevertheless, Ms.Hosobuchi is trying to organize a concert instead despite the temporary closing of the local hall, as people are long for the music. PTNA will introduce some artists if concert will be realized.

5. 'Koriyama Station'(representative: Masako NAKANO) changed the date of STEP from March 13th to May 3rd. More than 80% of the initial applicants declared their participation. Ayumi IGA is invited as a guest pianist and will play piano duo with some participants.

There are still some areas where people hardly get back to their daily life, or even hesitate to make sounds at home. The way for recovery still needs lots of time. But it is certain that everyone aspires for the next step, a step forward to the future. PTNA is ready to spread out their voices from Fukushima and Miyagi, as well as to help them back on track.