We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yoshie Nakayama a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Yoshie, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

One of the most profound risks in my life has been the decision to enroll at Berklee College of Music, a big investment and risk encompassing not only tuition and living expenses but also a considerable amount of time devoted to intense study away from my family, friends, and country without knowing where my life would end up afterward.

After a decade of service in a non-profit organization in Tokyo, with a teaching license in music from majoring in Music Education at Kunitachi College of Music, a passion I hadn’t pursued professionally, I opted for an admin job. This career choice afforded me financially to cover fees and costs of music activities to pay for performance venues and rehearsal studios. However, I could not ignore this internal voice, asking myself “Is this how I want to spend my life?”

Kunitachi had equipped me with a foundation in classical music theory, but my aspirations gravitated toward contemporary music and music production. This led me to embark on a transformative journey to Berklee College of Music.

Since I applied for the entering audition for Berklee, I invested in private lessons, learning the Berklee music theory as well as brushing up my trombone skills. This helped me to jump-start my study at Berklee with a scholarship.

Upon entering Berklee in my early thirties, I did my best to learn and build up friendships and mentorships that I cherish to this day, ten years later still based in Boston, evolving into professional connections all over the globe.

Reflecting on the considerable risk I took, such as financial and time investment over a decade in the US, I feel nothing other than accomplishments. In return, I acquired knowledge, experiences, and invaluable connections with hundreds of peers who have become lifelong treasures.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a music producer, specializing in acappella productions. In September 2021, I was appointed a professor at my alma mater, Berklee College of Music. I taught three arranging courses at the Contemporary Writing and Production department. All three courses are about notating music arrangements and producing recordings of their arrangements with other musicians with different instrumentation depending on the course.
In September 2023, I was appointed the Assistant Chair of the department, and still teaching the Vocal Writing course which is the very course that attracted me 11 years ago, to apply to Berklee.

In 2020, I founded Songs for World Peace with my friend from Berklee, Utako Toyama. We are a global initiative by musicians from all over the world to promote peace through the power of music. We have proudly released 100 songs by 100+ artists from 80+ countries in their native languages. On September 21st, International Day of Peace, we host the annual online event, “Peace Day Panel Discussion” with global leaders who unite people with music to achieve world peace.

This year, we have produced the Hiroshima Peace Song in collaboration with the Hiroshima International Festival, the City of Hiroshima, Mayors For Peace, and Berklee Global Jazz Institute. Songs for World Peace Artists and the Berklee musicians performed the song arranged by our Co-Founders, Utako Toyama and me with our wishes for peace.

I also offer composition, arrangement, orchestration, real instrument recording, music transcription, and music preparation, as well as trombone and vocal performances as a freelancer. My arrangements are published through Sheet Music Plus.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

We promote what we do on social media. It’s always appreciated for those supporters who follow/subscribe our Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube channel as well as liking and sharing our content since we are a global initiative to promote world peace, and we don’t sell anything.

We also appreciate donations in any amount. This year, we have the “4for4” donation campaign to celebrate our 4th year anniversary with a $4 donation per person.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

My commitment to studying, teaching, and freelancing in music production required working 24/7. Growing up with a perfectionist mindset, I was relentless and determined to achieve the highest standards.

This tireless pursuit of knowledge and the honing of my craft characterized the lifestyle not only for myself but for many peers. The collective dedication — a shared commitment to musical excellence and the pursuit of one’s artistic passions.

Looking back, I recognize the invaluable lessons learned from this period of intense dedication. Now, I am actively unlearning to turn the switch off of my brain from working mode and to balance both physical and mental well-being.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yoshie-music.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoshie_nkym/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YoshieMusic/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoshiemusic/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoshie_nkym
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/YoshieNakayama
• Other: https://www.songsforworldpeace.org

Image Credits
Photo by Jandro Cisneros, Joseph Safari