‘AMAZING ATMOSPHERE’
“We are like gypsies. Certainly, our hearts are attached more to Montreal, San Francisco and Paris, but at this point there is no one place where we are ready to settle down in.
“With Karin in school, the only times we can get together are during school breaks. But we’re always there in spirit to support one another, no matter where we may each be.”
In Karin’s early childhood, there was a little less jet-setting for her parents and consequently a little more togetherness on the home front. A real bonus, according to Karin.
“It was quite the fortunate experience to be able to grow up with musicians and to be surrounded by music,” says the equally soft-spoken Karin, who, like her mother, is fluent in Japanese, German and French as well as English. “It was an amazing atmosphere.”
All three may be classical music stars in their own rights, but keeping egos in check is not an issue.
“We share the same dreams and the same values about music,” says Kodama, who performed at a children’s concert in Montreal last Sunday. “It’s not about competition – it’s about appreciation of music, which is so much fun to share.”
“We draw from each other’s talents, rather than compete,” Karin explains. “We try to help each other as much as possible. So it all makes for a very positive experience on all our musical careers.”
That is, if Karin wants to devote herself totally to music. She’s uncertain where her career path will eventually take her — music or medicine or her other passions, architecture or filmmaking.
“Because Yale is a liberal arts school, we are really encouraged to explore different fields,” notes Karin, who has somehow managed to craft a few short films on the side.
“So now I’m not only studying medicine but also architecture and political science and other different fields. All that is also very enriching for my approach to the piano.
“One of the priorities in my life is to be able to share with others. No matter which field it will be, that’s the priority. Probably next year I’ll have to make a choice. But I’m still struggling to know which field I will follow.”
Kodama denies having fed Karin any special “over-achievement” supplements growing up.
“I honestly don’t know where all this comes from,” Kodama quips. “We’re constantly discovering her capabilities. In high school, piano was her passion, but she also did quite well in other areas in school. Now that she’s completely on her own, we’re discovering that she has so many other pursuits. I never thought she would be interested in scientific or mathematical matters, but now I learn she was chosen to tutor other students in mathematics. All I know is that it’s going to be very hard for her to choose next year.”
Whatever Karin’s decision, her parents pledge to support her – even if that route doesn’t entail music.
Mother and daughter have performed together in a few concerts on separate pianos. And along with Nagano, the three have performed informally together on one piano — which must have made for quite the visual image.
“There was no competition with the three of us there, because we all had to blend in together to make it sound good,” says Kodama, who performs about 40 concerts a year. “Whether you’re a soloist or part of a trio or an orchestra, music is all about collaboration. Whether we play together or with others, it’s never about any of us trying to show off — because that’s certainly not what the composer had in mind.”
When together in rare moments of down time, they prefer hiking to playing the piano together. Maybe it’s the outdoor exercise, but, like the family patriarch, mother and daughter seem incredibly mellow and laid-back for a pair forever on the go.
“It may not show, but there is panic at times,” says the ever-smiling Karin. “But that is counter-productive.”
One of the fantasies of mother and daughter is to do a triple piano concerto with Nagano, who would also be conducting them from his keyboard perch.
“The point is that wherever there is music, there is life,” opines Karin.
Her beaming mother simply nods most approvingly.
There was no competition with the three of us there, because we all had to blend in together to make it sound good . ... Music is all about collaboration.