I'm concertmaster of the Nashville Symphony & a violin professor at Vanderbilt. Next month, I'll be performing with members of the world's top orchestras (including LA Phil, NY Phil, Cleveland, Philadelphia + dozens more) all on one stage. AMA!

What are some common things you watch for when you observe other concert masters?

Given the chance to watch other orchs and their concertmasters, I hone in on how they communicate with their colleagues during the concert. It's an art form we all have our own way of doing and its fun to see different people do their thing.

Hi Jun. I (52f) started studying violin just over a year ago. Holy crap, it’s hard! Any suggestions for staying motivated when there are 8yr olds who can play better than me?

That's so great that you are starting! Don't let those 8 year olds get to you. Just go at your own pace and find things that are fun while you practice.

Classical violinist here- thanks for giving us this opportunity! What’s your favorite piece of chamber music to perform? I really enjoyed getting the Dvorak American String Quartet together recently.

I love all chamber music. Any Beethoven string quartet is always a pleasure to perform. Mendelssohn octet is another fun piece that I love playing when given the opportunity.

What are your pre and post show rituals?

Pre is really just a quick warm up on the violin so I don't go on stage cold. I try to eat a few hours before so I'm not hungry or full.

Post depends. Sometimes I like to wind down with a cocktail or catch the end of any games that may be on tv. If its a really taxing program, I just like to sit on my couch at home and relax

What makes one program more taxing compared to another?

length, emotional content. Many things factor into making one concert harder than others. If we are just backing up a pop singer and playing whole notes most of the time, that's pretty easy for us. But if it's a Strauss tone poem or Mahler Symphony, we are exhausted at the end.

What kind of music do you listen to for fun?

Reply

I listen to all sorts of stuff especially in the car. Sometimes Classical, sometimes pop/rock. these days it's a lot of whatever my 3 year old requests, so lots of disney tunes!

On a scale of zero to infinity, how annoying do you find baby shark to be? Do do doo....

close to infinity

As a CM, how do you prepare for every rehearsal and concert (other than practicing your own part obviously)? Do you memorize the score so you can focus more on leading the ensemble or just memorizing certain cues in the music or else? What makes a good CM good? …and how often do you sightread during rehearsal 😜? Sorry for lots of questions!

All great questions. I don't memorize the score BUT I do a lot of listening so that I am aware of who are which instruments I need to be with in a particular spot. Many times, I will mark in my music notes for myself to remind me of what is important or who needs an extra cue. I think a great CM is one who makes the conductor's job easier. Our role is to anticipate anything he/she wants to do and hopefully make it happen before they even ask! And no, my goal is never to sightread onstage

Thanks for your reply!

Have so many questions still but I think I‘ll just ask one last question: how do you decide when to do divisi on a chord, when it‘s not specified, like Mendelssohn‘s symphonies, Mozart magic flute overture and symphonies, Schumann’s, Brahms‘, etc.? Section‘s agreement? Conductor’s preference? Play all chord unless div. is specified? Thanks again!

depends on the orch and conductor. But in general, divided is going to be cleaner and more in tune. There are occasions when you can easily play the chord, go for it but if you are needing to "roll" the chord, I would avoid it because the timing will be different for everybody.

What's your favorite hot chicken place?

Prince's is the OG so I have to give them credit. But Hattie B's is more accessible and has solid chicken as well

Have you had the chance to work with Ben Folds? If so, what was it like?

I have a few times actually. Both in the recording studio and on stage here in Nashville. He's a really amazing guy and so talented. I remember for one concert, he made up an encore on the spot using an audience member to give him a basic tune to riff on. The Nashville Symphony recorded his piano concerto, so that was a whole other experience working in the studio with him to get everything perfect for the CD.

I remember him doing in Charlotte that while playing his piano like a drum set and the string section looked so confused. It was amazing!

neat technique he wrote into his concerto.

Hey Jun! What’s your favourite Beethoven symphony and why??

They are all so great. If I had to pick a favorite, I think it would be 6 or 9. Both are just such monumental works for their time that it's always so fun to perform them.

Have you had a listen at Paul McCartney’s classical albums…? If yes what did you think of it??

I haven't had a chance to listen to those yet. Maybe i'll add it to my list of things

Hi Jun! What’s your favorite dish to cook?

One of my favorite things to do is risotto. But I enjoy cooking all different types of foods both indoors and outdoors.

Violin teacher here. What is your practice routine like?

Not as routine as when I was younger. It's hard to have a constant routine with a full time job and family. But I do try to get some playing time in daily but these days it's mostly to get familiar with the next piece that is going to be performed

Hey Jun, I have two questions for you.

How long have you been playing violin?

What was your drive/inspiration that got you successful in your profession?

Great questions. I have playing quite a while. I started taking private instruction at the age of 5.

As for drive/inspiration, definitely my parents and teachers were a major part of that. Both of my parents are classical musicians so I grew up listening to it all the time. But honestly, I think just the love of music and especially orchestral music has driven me to get me where I am today

What is you take on fiddle / country / bluegrass music and non “classical” players, considering you’re in an area that is loaded with this influence? Anyone/anything stand out that has impressed you?

I love all sorts of "fiddle" playing. Sure it's a different style, but we are in essence playing the same instrument. I have loved going to shows and seeing different styles being used and sometimes even try to imitate them when the time is appropriate.

Favourite audition excerpt?

No such thing. Audition excerpts are not fun. Now, favorite excerpt when in the actual piece? Beethoven 9 slow movement excerpt is always great for the violin section

Have you seen any Two Step Violin videos on YouTube? If so what do you think of them?

yes! I love them. They keep our genre fun and hopefully younger people will get interested in what we do

Any particular fond memories of your time at CIM? Best of luck in San Diego!

So many memories of CIM. It was college after all, so aside from the amazing education i received, there were many good times with friends too. Musicians party too!

Do you get paid when you play with the different orchestras? What kind of pay rate are you looking at for someone in Your position?

Yes, we are paid to play with different orchestras. As for the rate, it varies on the budget of said orchestra

Can you ballpark for me? Im just curious what a musician makes at that level.

Again, depends on the situation. How many concerts, how many pieces, is it a solo? etc. Many factors will change the fee

Visiting Nashville for the weekend, definitely want to check out Vanderbilt, what else do you recommend doing?

Check out the full replica of the Parthenon. It was originally built for the TN Centennial Expo in the 1800's. If you like hikes, check out Radnor Lake and of course find some Nashville Hot Chicken!

Broadway in Nashville is a place you go to once and then (maybe) not again. Beware bachelorette parties and inexplicably drunken Santas.

agreed. I stay away from Broadway at all costs

I recall a story from a conductor who had participated in a similar exhibition years ago. The first rehearsal fell apart about 2 minutes in, because no one in the orchestra had ever had to turn the page before and was caught off guard. Are you prepared to potentially have to turn the pages?

Ironically, because of Covid and having to socially distance onstage, yes I am ready to turn pages now! But, I have been playing so much chamber music throughout my career, that I am used to turning my pages.

What's something from music theory that you wish more musicians knew?

nerdy answer alert.

Chords are not perfect intonation. Knowing where you are in the chord, you must adjust slightly where your pitch is

Are any rock musicians particularly technically adept from your perspective?

hmmm...that's a tough one. Since I don't play guitar, drums, etc. so I think so many artists are amazing. But one that sticks out because we did some stuff together here is Victor Wooten. I think the way he reinvented bass guitar playing is mind blowing.

What are your thoughts on popular composers such as John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and Leonard Bernstein?

I actually love film scores so you named a few of my favorite 'pop' composers

I love film scores as well! It’s amazing how detailed they are and how much the composer really tries to create the right feel for each scene

And now that many orchestras are playing live with the movies in their hall, we can appreciate even more, how important the music is for the movie goer's experience.

Is the thought of playing with the companies you’ve listed intimidating or is this just old hat for you?

PS. Has anyone told you you look like Jimmy Fallon’s successful musician half brother?

I dont' think I get intimidated anymore. I think mainly because we have the same goal which is to entertain and inspire our audience. And no, I'm going to have to look Jimmy Fallon's half brother up now!

Ahh Maestro, thank you for doing this. Is it true that people in your field prefer to be called Maestro and even get offended if called by their name?

haha, no. Not true. I prefer to be called by my name.

Hi Jun! As a concertmaster, you mustve put on quite a number of shows. Do you have a favorite of all time, and does it also align with (in your opinion) the best performance youve heard? Thanks!

That's a tough one. Many great concerts in my career so far. One of the most memorable has to be when John Williams conducted us and I got to spend some quality time with him backstage. Such a great humble guy and takes all of his music very seriously which was nice for us to experience.

Do you have any funny stories of mischievous goings-on in orchestras? For example, a video went around YouTube etc a while back of an orchestra practicing Prokofiev and the trombone section breaks into Darth Vader's theme.

Another question: have you ever played in a pit orchestra for a musical, and if so, what show(s)?

I have seen that video many times and love it. I did pull out a special light saber bow during a pops star wars show and nobody knew about it. That was pretty fun and the audience went wild.

I haven't played in a pit for a musical in a loooong time. Ballet and operas are more common now with my position

Light saber bow! That's amazing.

I played in pit for a few of our high school musicals: Wizard of Oz, Guys and Dolls, and Me and My Girl. Oz was my favorite, though; sometimes I still get some of the little "stings"/interludes stuck in my head.

There is some great music in those musicals.

Hi Jun,

My 11-year-old is very excited to play the violin. We rented one for her over the weekend with a study guide to give her some experience and get the instrument's feel. She is struggling; she thinks it's because she is left-handed. I think it's simply because she needs someone to show her how to hold it properly. YouTube videos and books only do so much.

My question - can you recommend a resource to find a reputable tutor who could help get her started? There are a lot in our area (Pacific Northwest), it's a challenge to figure out where to start.

Thanks!

You're on the right track and Youtube is a blessing and a curse. It can be helpful but also not very helpful at times. I would do a search in your area for Suzuki instructors. I think that would be the best way to "set" your 11 year old up and start playing

What is the best instrument in an orchestra, and why is it the cello?

nice one. My father is a cellist and he would agree with you!

Could Mozart make it in Nashville today?

I bet he could. I'm guessing he would adapt to the times and compose and play piano as well as anybody today

I have an 11 year old who’s been in piano for almost two years. He likes it but I can see him enjoying maybe a percussion instrument. Any advice on how to keep him motivated in instruments without forcing it on him?

Maybe let him do more than one instrument but don't let him give one up so easily. I wish I continued my piano studies when I was younger. I regret not having those skills today

I am constantly fascinated with how few mistakes you hear in live orchestra sessions and performances. As a guitarist this is a practical impossible task :)

Is this just in the practice of your craft or are guitar teachers to slack?

Well there is no such thing as a perfect performance. I think we just can hide our mistakes easier?

Given the current state of classical music (declining attendance, lack of financial support, aging demographic of concert goers, etc), would you let your own children pursue a career in it?

If that is what they wish, I'm not going to take away their dream. There are many careers in music today that aren't directly tied to ticket sales and old concert goers. Creativity is going to help change what we do in the future

Do you think Vanderbilt's tuition is excessive?

I think many schools these days have increased their tuition and that is unfortunate. Hard to say what is excessive and what is not, but hopefully scholarship is more widely available so kids can go to the schools they want to

What's the maximum number of people you have performed in front of?

Edit: Thank You

Hollywood Bowl max capacity. ...so almost 20,000 people?

Mr. Iwasaki,

Thanks for taking the time. When preparing for performances with different orchestras how do you adapt your playing to their stylistic differences, or do you? As a Clevelander, I'm thinking of the Cleveland Orchestra's reputation for being more technical than artistic.

Ironic that you mentioned Cleveland. I have played with them numerous times and I have to actually disagree. Yes, they are technically a great orchestra, but I admire them for their artistry even more. They play as if they are on the same brain wavelength and that is hard thing to do with 100plus people on stage. But to answer your other question, I don't think I try to adapt too much. I figure, if I'm being hired to play with someone, they want me to do what I do best. If I'm leading, I will lead the way I do. If I'm joining the section, I will blend in as best as I can

Is the brass section smaller in size because of the repertoire?

brass section smaller due to how the composer orchestrates. Most pieces don't require more than 3 or 4 trumpets, trombones, horns, etc. So most orchs only hire that many to be on their rosters. If there is a piece that needs more, they will hire extras to fill those spots but it would be a lot of sitting at home if there were say 6 full time trumpet players on the payroll

That's what I figured. Have a fantastic time and a wonderful festival. I hope to be in the audience someday. I'm lucky in Cincinnati to have The May Festival, so I'll let that comfort me!

hope to see you out in San Diego someday too!

Do orchestras have specific protocols in place if an instrument breaks? Or is it kind of understood among all the members? E.g. https://youtu.be/fh59nvRA52M

Haven't ever seen an instrument break on stage. Now sometimes, string players will break a string and there is most of the time a protocol on how to fix it and when. For example, if I break a string in concert, I will switch instruments with my stand partner so I can keep playing. My stand partner will change the string as quickly as they can and then we will switch back to our own instruments. Kind of like a pit crew changing a tire during a race

What advice would you give musicians who are pursuing a professional music career (orchestral positions) that are currently in high school/college?

Keep going for it. Don't let one or two bad auditions depress you. We have all gone through ups and downs and the ones that keep pushing eventually will figure it out

If there was one thing you could change about Nashville, what would it be?

no more pedal taverns downtown. They block traffic and the people riding them are loud and obnoxious

How do you prefer audio engineers to capture the sound of your orchestra?

Live if possible. When we record in Nashville, we do it over 3 live performances and if we have to, we will patch little things after the 3rd night for audience noise etc.

As far as close-miking versus area miking?

In my opinion, the conductor is doing all the "mixing" themselves and it's the engineers job to capture that overall sound rather than capturing individual pieces and putting them back together in the recording - if that makes sense.

Ive worked with several sound guys and several conductors that prefer either/or.

Thanks for your response!

Area for sure. The violin, viola, cello, etc "section" is what should be miked. Not individuals.

Makes complete sense to me! Thanks for verifying my methods somewhat!

Oh also, another question I just thought of.

I work in an opera hall that has retractable acoustic curtains to adjust the amount of reverberation. Do conductors typically like more reverb or less? I'm sure it's more of a subjective taste kind of thing but I'm curious about your perspective.

it's subjective for sure. But I think in general more is better than none. and remember, audience dampens the sound too

Thank you Mr Iwasaki.

What inspired you to become a concertmaster?

Thanks for the AMA

I think it was the fact that as concertmaster, I can play the great orchestral rep that I love. But also have the opportunity to play solos, and find time to play chamber music as well. So the possibly of not being tied down to just one thing and make a living out of it was a big part of why I pursued the concertmaster position

It looks as if the solo in Scheherazade would be the most fun ever. Or is it too much pressure to really enjoy it?

Oh it's always fun. The trick is to make it different every time it comes up in the piece. Remember, the violin solo is Scheherazade and we need to tell a different story to keep our head on our necks

What's your favorite movie ever, what's your favorite musical, and what's your favorite movie that you've recently watched? How does your musical proficiency impact or augment your enjoyment of other art forms?

Favorite movie ever? that's tough. Recently watched, CODA. As for your last question, I definitely hear the music more than the dialogue at times. I think my brain just focuses on melody and harmony first!

Any composers you think are particularly overrated or underrated?

Many underrated composers out there. Vaughan Williams, Korngold to name a few. I will not comment on overrated...

Nice to see good music here. If you don't mind- are your folks (who are pro musicians right?) Japanese citizens? If so have you spent anytime in the Japanese classical scene or has most of your career been in the States/Europe? If possible can you compare your experiences in different countries' musical cultures and approach to classical music?

i dont' mind you asking. Yes both of my parents are Japanese. I have spent a good amount of time performing in Japan and for the most part its similar. The biggest difference is the seriousness of the audience. You can hear a pin drop during concerts and then applause at the end is never ending (which is always fun to experience)

Great answer. Yeah I don't meet casual classical fans here so much. It can get pretty intense. One more if possible: When first deciding on a musical career did you ever consider a Japanese music school, or by that point was American the way to go for you? Or European?

I chose my school based on the teachers. So I picked schools here in the states

Would you consider Nikki Benedetti one of the greatest playing today?

Sure, I would agree with that.

What's the hardest piece, technically speaking, you've ever conducted? What made it so challenging?

First, I don't conduct nor plan on it. As for playing the hardest piece, I really can't pinpoint one piece in general. But anything that has quarter tones or microtones are always gnarly to learn

Hi Jun, thanks for doing this AMA. How do you feel about the centuries old tradition of performances where the conductor doesn't directly speak with the audience? Having been in amateur orchestras for most of my adult life it's one of the things I dislike most about the performances because I end up perceiving it as a lack of engagement at times, though I've been to some concerts where conductors give a little synopsis of the piece and the composer, which is really nice to hear.

I think given the right time, the conductor should speak to the audience. Whether that be on stage or during a pre concert lecture is up for discussion. But I agree, I think some sort of audience connection helps both sides out.

How should I learn to appreciate orchestra/classical music more?

I've listened to a lot of how Benjamin Zander breaks down orchestral pieces. Its fascinating but I don't know how and where to do that on my own.

Hmm. If you read music, there are lots of videos on YouTube now that play the piece while following the score. Those can be fun if you are a score reader. Otherwise, I think finding a way to get to live concerts is the best way to further your appreciation of classical music. Hopefully, you are in a city near a symphony and can easily get tickets.

What are your thoughts on performing more avant-garde 20th century music like stuff by Cage or Stockhausen? Do you like performing this kind music? Do you wish it was programmed more often or is it programmed too much?

We actually play lots of 20th century music here in Nashville. I think it's great to be doing modern stuff as well as the older stuff. A good balance is important to keep both the musicians and audiences well versed

Have you ever played, or at least gotten requested, Mozart's Leck Mich Im Arsch before?

Leck Mich Im Arsch

Neither. I think its for voice and trust me. You do not want to hear me try to sing. But maybe there is a version written for strings, and maybe it's something I would like to play sometime. All Mozart is genius in some fashion

What's something a conductor might say and/or do that makes a bad impression? Or makes you think that things maybe aren't going to go as well as you'd like.

haha, dangerous question. I think one red flag is when they ask for something that is completely the opposite of what they are showing with their hands. It's much easier for an orchestra to understand a conductor when those things match up.

Do you prefer Milstein or Oistrakh?

both for different things. Milstein had a great ease in his playing that I admire and Oistrakh had such a bold and distinct sound that I look for in many of his Romantic concertos and sonatas

I have two young sons (4 in September and 2 in July) that have shown interest in classical instruments, mainly the string types. We've gotten the older one both a foam violin and cello, and we try to encourage proper technique and what not when we can. We've looked at getting the older one in to some formal lessons, but he's not quite there yet. What else do you think we could do at home to help them both develop the skills they need?

It's hard to develop skills without a teacher unless either of the parents have background. I think your 4 year old is about ready for private instruction so I would recommend looking into that. As for the 2 year old, keep letting him have fun with it until you think he is also ready for lessons

Hey Jun! We miss seeing you with OSO! Do you have any good stories or favorite memories from your time there?

So many good times. I miss Oregon as well. It was my first professional job, so I have lots of close friends there. Lots of fun post concert hangs at the heathman

What drove you to pursue and teach music specifically over any other subject? Do you have a love/passion for music?

Definitely, my upbringing in a musical family inspired me to purse this. My other passion is food/cooking and golf

Were you Suzuki trained? Do you utilize Suzuki method at Blair?

I was actually not Suzuki trained fully. I used the books but not the method. And no, I don't utilize the Suzuki method as I am not trained to teach that method

What's it like leading a cultural institution in a land of MAGA lies and Handmaid's Tale wannabes?

honestly, I just ignore all the outside noise.

[deleted]

sure?

How do you justify eating animals, given they must be killed for you to eat?

I don't have to justify it.