Tchinai biography

Takeo TCHINAI (b. 1976, Japan)

He studied in Tokyo College of Music under Ms. Sonoko MAEZONO and Prof. Izuru KOBAYASHI between 1995 and 1999 and privately under Prof. A. Porrini in Milan, Italy.

Entered Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, Germany and studied under Prof. Einar Steen-Nøkleberg between 2000 and 2005.

He won Takemitsu prize in Edvard Grieg Piano Competition in 2000 and the 3rd prize in Marsala International Piano Competition in the same year.

In 2001 the symptoms of focal dystonia appeared. He underwent a series of medical treatment by Prof. Dr. med. Eckart Altenmüller in IMMM Hanover, HMTMH, followed by rehabilitative treatment in Berlin under Mr. Laurent Boullet’s instruction.

In 2002 Prof. Nøkleberg suggested him to play the pieces written/arranged by A. Scriabin, J.S. Bach – J. Brahmsfor left hand alone.

He graduated HMTMH with the best grade at the final examination performance in his chamber ensemble in 2005.

While his stay in Japan in March 2006 he played Piano Concerto for the Left Hand by M. Ravel with Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra to great acclaim.

After a concert in Nigata Pref. in November of the same year, he started performing in Japan at full swing, followed by a 45-minute documentary program by Kansai TV which featured him as “pianist with left hand alone” in the next year.

In 2008 he moved to Kobe City for a firmer base for his musical career and completed his first recording, which brought to him a result of over 50 concerts in 2009.

Then he conceived a basic idea for the present “Archiving Project for Left Hand Piano Music” which covered sheet music inventory, systematic performing aids and study in rendition of the piano pieces for left hand alone.

In 2010, he formed a private working group for the project and started to publish videos of his own performance as training aids in the project’s website.

In 2011, the working group organized a piano quintet concert in Hyogo Performing Arts Center with the Japanese premiere performance of F. Schmidt’s piece for left hand, and released two private CDs for selling in the concert and website.

To promote domestic recognition, Japanese website was opened in September of the same year. He also started organizing young pianists and music college graduates aiming for developing specialist group for performing with left hand.

In 2012, the working group published 6 piano scores for one hand, including two for elementary students, two for intermediate students and two for advanced pianists, all of which were put on sale in the same way as the CDs.

Recently, he played across the country at average 80 halls and salons yearly, and appeared in the major Japanese newspapers including Yomiuri, Asahi and Mainichi and national TV/radio programs including NHK.