Yesterday by Paul McCartney/arranged by Naoko Takada

Mallets Used- Naoko Takada Soloist Mallets #3 and #4 by Encore.
Currently available from bruce@saylerpercussion.com

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Business Inquiry-naokomarimba@gmail.com

Memories (excerpt) by Naoko Takada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJwOpoGDNgA&list=RDNpUFHYJdXrw&index=8
Courante from Cello Suite No.1 by J.S. Bach
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4KqeQLBrYo
Prelude in C by J.S. Bach
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5M7jaVY9bc&list=RDNpUFHYJdXrw&index=5
Watermark by Enya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp_9THon2KE&list=RDNpUFHYJdXrw&index=3
Bronze at the Temple from Japanese Folk Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpUFHYJdXrw&list=RDNpUFHYJdXrw&start_radio=1
Prelude from Cello Suite No.1 in G major
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bcxl...

FAQ-
-Where do I teach?
University of Southern California, Los Angeles
-What competitions did I win?
First Prizes-Young Concert Artists International Competition, Houston Symphony Imma Hog Young National Artists Competition, the Scranton Young International Artist Competition, Japan International League of Artists Competition, IBLA Grand Prize International Competition Marimba Special Award, S and R Washington Award etc.
-What mallets Do I recommend for warming up?
As always, I use Encore NT concerto #5 mallets (green) by Encore. This is the mallets I use to warm up and check my techniques everyday. They are soft but project clear sound I can identify any subtle mistakes.
-What mallets do I recommend for auditions with Bach Violin Sonatas?
NTConcerto #4,#5, and #6
-What mallets do I recommend for Bach Cello Suites?
NT Concerto #5, #6 and #7
-What mallets do I recommend for Bach Lute Suites or Piano arrangements?
NT Soloist(grey) #3,#4 #5 and #6
-What mallets do I recommend for contemporary pieces?
NT Concerto #1, #2, #3, #4. NT Soloists #1, #2 #3 and #4
-What mallets do I recommend for all other pieces?
NT Soloists #1-#6.
-What mallets do I recommend for concerto?
NT Concerto #1-#4

Profile- World renown marimbist, Naoko Takada has toured the world and the US performing solo recitals in such venues as Carnegie Hall, Konzarthaus in Berlin, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Lincoln Center in New York, and Suntory Hall in Tokyo. She was the chief judge for the Southern California International Marimba Competition and has been a judge for many international Marimba, Percussion, Percussion Ensemble such as Percussive Arts Society international Competitions and Italy PAS Marimba Competition. The Time Picayune quoted as saying “No one needs a critic when an audience leaps to its feet, calling a star soloist back for three encores.”

Takada’s talent was first apparent at age eleven when she was selected to perform a concerto with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and has since performed with many orchestras such as China National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke, Houston Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Xalapa Symphony, and West Los Angeles Symphony. She has also appeared as a guest artist for the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and NAMN show in Anaheim. In 2004, she played in the “Wall of Gang Camp Gala” hosted by Paul Newman and shared a stage with Hollywood stars Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep, and Danny Glover. She has also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Show as one of the featured Taiko performers accompanying Christina Aguilera in 2020. She teaches marimba at the University of Southern California. She devotes herself to educational outreach programs such as Midori and Friends in New York City.

Takada won many First Prizes including the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, and presented her New York debut at the 92nd Street Y, sponsored by the Peter Jay Sharp Prize. In May 2004, Ms. Takada performed the New York premiere of composer Kevin Puts’ Marimba Concerto with Leonard Slatkin conducting the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in Lincoln Center. In 2006, she was awarded the S & R Washington Award, a prize that supports artists who contribute to cultural understanding between the U.S. and Japan. Her other awards include First Prizes at the Houston Symphony Ima Hogg National Young Artist Competition and at the 2001 Sorantin Young Artists International Competition in Texas, the Marimba Special Prize at the 2001 IBLA Grand Prize International Competition in Italy and First Prize in the 2000 Japan International League of Artists Competition in Tokyo, etc.