Eri Yoshimura

Born in Osaka, Japan, Eri Yoshimura earned a music education degree from Shinshu University before moving to Denton, Texas. There, she obtained a second bachelor’s and a master’s degree in piano performance from the University of North Texas. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in piano performance under Dr. Pamela Mia Paul with a related field in Music and Medicine under Dr. Kris Chesky.

Eri Yoshimura’s scholarly research has focused on understanding and preventing piano-related medical problems. Her first major research effort involved extensive upper-extremity evaluations of 35 college-level piano majors. A scientific paper titled: “Risk Factors for Piano-related Pain among College Students” was published in the Medical Problems of Performing Artists journal in September 2006. The replicated study involving 47 piano teachers has also been published in September 2008. Her research interest is ongoing and focused on reducing piano-related pain among pianists and the possible application of an ergonomically modified keyboard (a smaller keyboard) for small-handed pianists. In April 2006 she performed on this small keyboard that is 15/16 the size of a standard keyboard in her solo recital playing Debussy’s 24 Preludes. Her current study utilizes both motion-capture cameras and force sensors to understand the kinematics and biomechanics of pianists. She has presented her research in conferences at Aspen (PAMA), Chicago (MTNA), Serbia (EPTA) and England (RNCM). She won the research scholarship in 2008 and was chosen as one of 12 student researchers at UNT in 2009 (More information can be seen here).

Eri Yoshimura has performed solo recitals and four-hands recitals in USA (including Hawaii), Japan, Mexico, Italy, and Hungary (Franz Liszt International Festival). She participated in Casalmaggiore Summer Festival (Italy) twice and has performed in master classes with Mr. Lee Kum Sing. She also participated in the Bösendorfer Academy and performed at the Bösendorfer Saal. In addition to performing, she was a teaching fellow at UNT and has taught the group and private piano lessons and an Occupational Health: Lessons From Music course at UNT.

Eri Yoshimura

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