FAQ - 3

Q. Does Nobuyuki have perfect pitch (absolute pitch)?

This video,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQFxZL_WGYg, of Nobuyuki with long-time childhood piano teacher Mr. Masahiro Kawakami (photo above, left), shows his absolute pitch, which allows him to instantly  repeat notes and chords played by the teacher.

Q. What does Nobuyuki's name mean in Japanese?

 In Japanese, Nobuyuki is 伸行.  According to this webpage http://www.20000-names.com/male_japanese_names.htm, the name means "faithful happiness". 

Q: Who are Nobu's favorite composers?

Take a wild guess!  According to an interview whose link is shown below: "Debussy, Chopin and Beethoven.  Chopin and Beethoven are very close to me at heart."

(Source: http://www.steinwaypianos.com/news/InterviewwithCliburnWinnerNobuyukiTsujii-465

Q: Who are some of Nobuyuki's favorite classical pianists?

According to an interview that appeared in the Japanese magazine Ongakuno-tomo (June 2010 issue)  http://www.ongakunotomo.co.jp/catalog/detail.php?code=931007,  Nobuyuki  said the pianists he likes are Kissin, Cortot, Lipatti and Horowitz, etc.

Nobu appeared on a radio show in July 2011: "sweet discovery" Tokyo FM July 31 2011, and was asked by the host -- famous Japanese singer composer Yumin -- to name two of his favorite performances of Chopin's music by other pianists. His choices were:

- Chopin's Barcarolle played by Artur Rubinstein.

-Chopin's concerto#1 performed by Krystian Zimerman(Polish pianist).

According to one Nobu fan in Japan: Nobu said on that show that he would like to be a great master like Rubinstein some day and act like him (smoking cigars, drinking espresso and going to see the movies before performing.) Picture Nobu smoking a cigar!!

Q: How does Nobuyuki record his compositions?

This is a question that was asked at a Q&A session that took place in Boston in April 2011 (Boston Q&A 2011).  The answer is: he does not write it down, but record it (on cassette); he would then modify the music later, from the recording.  On an episode of The "Takeshi Art-Beat" show - June 8 2011 where Nobu appeared, there is footage of a recording session of his composition "Morning in Cortona", and it is shown that the sound engineer has no score to work with, just the general structure of the piece.

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