I understand that Yokoyama Reina of Morning Musume。'17 has been able to play the saxophone since her seventh grade. What did she learn in her first life, before becoming an idol?
Yokoyama Reina has been with Morning Musume。'17 for about a year now. She participated in the orchestra club during her middle school years and had competed in the "All Japan Band Competition". Currently, the competition continues and this year is the 65th competition (by Asahi Shimbun). I was able to ask her a few questions about this nostalgic period: the lessons she learned from it, the feeling of playing the saxophone in public, ...
— How did you decide to learn to play the saxophone?
When I returned to sixth grade, an orchestra club from another school came to play in ours, some of our students were joining the movement. In front of me, I saw some senpai who were really too cool. I wanted to directly become like them, I wanted to know how to play them too! The following year, I joined the club and chose to take a tenor saxophone. The tenor saxophone was too big for me, I couldn't even reach the bottom keys. For a start, it was demoralizing.
— Since when did you start to love the alto saxophone?
The alto saxophone is the one that often plays the main melody, unlike the tenor saxophone which has difficulty reaching it. As I like to stand out, I told myself that the alto saxophone was the one that resembled me the most (laughs). I adopted this instrument very quickly.
— When did you get your first saxophone?
When I was in seventh grade class. I went to a music store where I could test the instrument and when I tried Yanagisawa's saxophones I felt very comfortable. So I bought one.
— It's true, it's important to feel comfortable with your instrument. By the way, have you given your saxophone a name?
Her name is "Ku~u-chan". It's a girl. Besides, it's a nickname I was given after that (laughs).
— How was your activity within the orchestra club?
It was more difficult than I had imagined. The training was long, it took at least one day per weekend and school holidays. I remember I had lunch for 30 minutes and then did five hours of training afterwards. When I was in first year, I found it too complicated and I thought about quitting. But the following year, we had a new teacher who told us "Your priority is to take care of your friends". “In the end, you all have your personal life, but you have chosen to be part of the orchestra. Individual training is certainly important, but also group training. improved". When I heard that it struck me and I started to see the club in a different way. I understood those words, started to feel like a real member of the club and worked a lot more seriously with my friends.
| Reina's saxophone case. The hanged hachimaki comes from her kohai, who offered her thanks for her efforts, her courage and her determination during her graduation as a guide. |
— The advice from our senpai is always encouraging. On the seventh grade, you participated in the "All Japan Band Competition". It was your first competition, but also your first time going to the western Kanto region, right?
Yes. In my first year, I couldn't go to the Saitama convention. I never thought I would be able to go even further in this adventure.
— It's a whole new world. Did the difference in culture disturb you?
When we got to the west coast of Kanto, the whole group suddenly started crying, it surprised us all (laughs). I was too happy to be able to participate in such a great competition, but I was afraid to be there and I put the pressure on myself. I cried so much that I was stressed out. Members came to see me to reassure me, even if they told me they weren't at ease either (laughs). I really wondered if this was going to do it, then as soon as I entered the tuning room I was able to focus directly.
— What did your teacher say?
"Don't bring us bad luck". I managed to calm myself down by telling myself that I hadn't come all this way for nothing. When we went on stage, I had this impression that we were all one and that we were going to reach the first place.
— Was your performance successful?
By the time our first part was over, our teacher was fighting back tears. When I realized he was about to cry, I thought to myself that we must all be so cool together. We did this whole trip to show what we were capable of! At the end of the entire performance, everyone started to cry...
— I will start to cry too.
When I think about it, I really cry. I was so proud. I still remember this performance, sometimes I listen to it on my phone.
— I understand. After that, you took part in a national tournament, the Nagoya Congress Center. An anecdote about this competition?
There were a lot of different schools among the contestants. We had once again applied during our performance, but the rivalry had scared us very much.
— What memories do you take from this competition?
I still couldn't compete in Saitama, my hometown. The teacher proved to me that it wasn't necessary, because we were doing a lot more. He made so much effort for us that we had to always give the best of ourselves. He taught me to surpass myself.
— Have you ever thought about being part of Morning Musume。at that time?
As soon as I entered college, I was familiar with Morning Musume。. I have been learning to dance jazz since my first steps and I have always loved singing. As soon as I joined the orchestra club, we organized concerts regularly and our performances improved in quality over time. I wanted my performances to please others, to make them smile. This is from that time I wanted to become an idol.
— Does your experience in this orchestral club help you now that you are a member of Morning Musume。'17?
Morning Musume。'17 has so many different varieties. They are sometimes simple songs, sometimes more complicated because of the rhythm given to the melody. You have to practice over and over again to be able to interpret them correctly. Besides, sometimes we all sing the lyrics together, that's where our sense of rhythm is important. But anyway, what I learned from the orchestra club is useful for everything I do.
— What does orchestral music represent to you?
My first life. And thanks to this orchestra, I'm now living my second life, the Yokoyama Reina from Morning Musume。'17.
— A new album was released on December 6th.
Yes! It's my first album since I joined. I find that this album contains a wide selection of music, all different, from jpop to more jazz music. So, I would like everyone to find their favorite song in the album.
— Finally, do you have a word to say to all those who are learning to play the saxophone?
Sometimes we think we have reached our limits. Never forget that to err is human, it isn't worth worrying too much. It's by learning to overcome your weaknesses and accept your failures that you grow. Team spirit is also important, it is together that we become stronger. And don't forget to take care of your friends.
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