"Toward 2020, bringing hope and joy to all— The goal is an orchestra for children with disabilities" Midori Goto

Widely known internationally as a violinist, Midori Goto has been engaged in various social contribution activities for over 20 years, alongside her performance career. This time, we focused our conversation on the thoughts, hopes, and goals behind one of these initiatives: the Instrumental Instruction Support Program.

One of My Lifelong Pursuits: The Instrumental Instruction Support Program

Realizing a society where all people can strive toward hope and share joy—isn't that a profound goal touching the very essence of life? Alongside my performing career, I have engaged in various social activities for about 20 years. All of them connect to this grand goal. Among them, I am currently working on concrete measures to enhance the "Instrument Instruction Support Program," part of my life's work, "Music Sharing."

Music Sharing is built on three main pillars. First is the "Visiting Program," where collaborating artists visit children to hold concerts. Next is the "International Community Engagement Program," where I form a quartet with three young musicians to foster international exchange through music in Asian countries. Finally, there is the "Instrumental Instruction Support Program," where music college graduates provide ongoing performance instruction to children at special needs schools like special education schools.

The Instrumental Instruction Support Program began in the spring of 2006. The impetus for it came much earlier, from an experience performing in front of children at a special needs school. Regardless of the severity of their disabilities, the children responded to my music with pure, unfiltered emotion. At that moment, I felt a strong desire for them to experience the joy of new self-expression and self-realization through playing an instrument, and to directly touch "real music (the essence of music)." However, children attending special needs schools rarely have opportunities to learn instruments. Amidst this reality, the Instrumental Instruction Support Program was something I had nurtured within me for a long time.

​Practice session at Kanagawa Prefectural Aso Special Needs School (June 2014)

Performing with confidence before a general audience at Suntory Hall

Thanks to the children's efforts, their families' cooperation, and the dedicated guidance of school teachers and volunteer instructors, our initial goals—instrumental instruction and model performances—were well underway. However, opportunities to showcase their practice results were limited mostly to school events. There was no venue for them to perform for people beyond their friends, family, and teachers. So, in 2009, just as three years had passed, we decided to hold the first joint concert involving three schools.

Finding a suitable hall proved extremely difficult. Even halls advertised as barrier-free often presented challenges: reaching the hall itself in a wheelchair was extremely difficult, or there were insufficient wheelchair-accessible restrooms. While the "front" audience seating and lobby might be barrier-free, the "backstage" areas like dressing rooms and the stage area were far from what could be called "barrier-free." This experience became a catalyst for rethinking what barrier-free truly means. Despite these struggles, that joint concert became the first exchange between special needs schools. It allowed the children to experience the joy of knowing they had peers and of performing together with those peers. However, the audience at that time was mostly school staff and family members. Opportunities for the general public to hear their performances were scarce. Therefore, for my 2014 concert at Suntory Hall, with the hall's full support, we had the children perform in the main hall as a pre-concert event.

Students from Tsukuba University Affiliated Kirigaoka Special Needs School performing at Suntory Hall with Ms. Goto and others (October 2014)

The audience that day had come to hear my concert, "An Evening of Concertos," not specifically to hear the children perform. I desperately wanted the pure music of these children to be heard by the very people who make the effort to visit this renowned classical music hall. Initially, the hall staff were concerned about the audience's reaction. However, everyone who listened gave the children warm applause. This was a tremendous encouragement not only for the children themselves, but also for their families, teachers, and everyone involved. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Kennedy attended and shared his impressions directly with the children after the concert, creating a special memory for them. Realizing this concert also boosted the confidence of everyone involved. This June, we are planning a concert with the cooperation of a Tokyo art museum, aiming to have audiences who don't typically come to hear music experience their music.

We want to create a goal in the world of music similar to the Paralympics.

Our greatest dream for the near future is to form an orchestra with children who have learned to play through this program and have them perform. Currently, the program is only implemented at three schools near Tokyo, but to realize performances by an orchestra, we aim to expand the program nationwide. Plans are underway to start in Osaka and Kanazawa this year.

Just as athletes with disabilities have venues and goals like the Paralympics or Special Olympics to showcase their efforts, musicians also need goals. By 2020, when the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are held, we want to achieve this orchestral performance as a goal within the world of music. It will be an incredibly challenging endeavor, but it will be enjoyable for everyone involved and may reveal unexpected possibilities.
Of course, 2020 is not the final goal, but merely a milestone. I believe music has the power to broaden communication between people and provide the first step toward mutual understanding. It can also amplify the emotions inherent within us, influence our feelings, and change how we view the world. I intend to continue sharing the joy of music with everyone through diverse activities.

Midori Goto Official Website
www.gotomidori.com/

Music Sharing Site
musicsharing.jp/