Jon Nakamatsu's "Loser's Club"

[milkana21]

What a great personality, and outstanding performer! I just accompanied him in Beethoven's 4th piano concerto with MSO.

[datfender50]

What a great man.... and performer. I just saw him play tonight at EMF!

[xFirebird925x]

love this speech :DDD anyways...who are those that were laughing soooo freaking loud down there? its kinda annoying... -.-

[tanadihensen73]

Nakamatsu could be an excellent example for those who loves music but has lots of difficulties in mastering it. He can view his lose as a power to reach success, only because he loves music. He may face it with his humorous personality. Yeah, he has solved many obstacles many people can't solve. That is his strength mentality. Bravo for you, Jon !

[bglenn555]

If at first you don't succeed, lose, lose again.

[LazerJet27]

He came to our school today! :D

[pianovirtuoso1000]

A very humble speech! I am impressed! This speech is the best speech I've ever heard!!!!! I am very impressed and inspired that he still loved music, even at times of failure, when he got his screenings rejected or lost competitions! But even so, his humbleness and love to music had gained him a big reward he deserved at the Van Cliburn. He's a true musician! Thank you very much for posting this video! I will never forget this video, because it's packed with lessons to teach!

[MrStrav81]

That was brilliant.

[piano6861]

This is brilliant!

[pianogirl98]

A wonderful speech! Thank you so much for sharing!

[chrisa0001]

That has to be Iisaka-san laughing uproariously in the audience at around 6:20, when Jon relates the anecdote about "Japanese people can't play Chopin". Ha!

[ok4misha]

I love it!

[klausknulp]

i am speechless! great!

[vlnspieler]

Jon, I just ran acrossthis site and am sending it to ALL of my students.......I was there when you won Cliburn AND I was rooting for you all the way. It was so much fun to listen to your speech.

[aawpiano2007]

So touching! He is a big man. Thanks very much for sharing this fabulous speech with us!

[evamariebarlaan]

Awesome...and inspirational...

[Pesanteyzh]

I ran into him at one of the Tower Records

stores one day, besides taking the advantage for the autogtraph, I got a chance to chat with him. His humbleness

is enlightening to me, his personality is just as beautiful as his music!

[vv268]

I had a master class with him today. He was very funny. He's AMAZING!!!!

[camaysar222]

What a magnificent speech! This is obviously an intelligent and caring man with much more to teach than music. Best to Mr. Nakamatsu.

[xxxyyyzzzar]

hilarious

"expose ourselves to public judgement of something intensely personal...all for the promise of nothing."

love it when someone puts my vague and distorted thoughts in just the right bunch of words.

[DualThunder]

amazing speech. its really made me see the light through such a brutal and merciless field of life.

Sounds like i could benefit from talking with nakamatsu...

[imsleepyanddead]

i remember him at the german airport riding the airport carts in the hallway ;-)

[DaveThePianoDude]

Hey Jon - I liked your speech. We took a class together at Stanford (German listening and speaking skills). Your words definitely soothed my wounded psyche from a rejection I received just this past week.  I'll try to catch you in Winchester!

- David A. Holland

Stanford '91

(on YouTube as DaveThePianoDude)

[OriginalMoonbeam]

Got to admire this man's fortitude and the fact that he never gave up or listened to negative reactions--that he knew inside what he could do.

[675857560]

Bravo!!!!!!!!!

I wanna join his club...and also wanna his reject letter....

[SwePianoholic]

This is one of the best speeches I've ever heard ;P

[sonikarkhitekt]

@SwePianoholic

After hearing and working for him last night, I have determined, he is everything right about attitudes toward music. Let's hope the critics and reviewers do not kill our industry that offers so much to so many for the right reasons

[JorPove]

No obstante que todos los comentarios han siso colocados en ingles,en español puede agregarse que las palabras de este maestro son atinentes a la mania de mucho comentarista que usualmente profiere insultos a los competidores con una fiereza digna de mejor causa. Uno conoce en la vida muchas personas que habiendo sido rechazadas se levantan para triunfar y dejan atras a quienes han sido galardonados a veces por complacencia. Inspiradas estos recuerdos de Nakamatsu.

[jonartyt]

My wife and I went to the Redding concert and were both blown away by Mr. Nakamatsu's inspired performance. It was dazzling, and we had a chance to meet him at a party afterwards. Kyle's conducting skills were tremendous and I had the feeling that he was aware of every microscopic musical nuance generated by this amazing North State Symphony Orchestra. His enthusiasm and physical movements reminded me of Leonard Bernstein.

It was a memorable evening and we won't soon forget it.

[BettyCope]

Thank you so much for sharing this! I belong to the North State Symphony League in Redding, Ca. Kyle, the conductor told us to check out this video. We are SO excited to have you come play Rachmaninoff this weekend. You are indeed an inspiration!

[Pianos85]

I have heard so much about Jon Nakamatsu from everyone who has met him and heard him. all of it uniquely warm and fullsome in praise for him as a pianist and as a person. The humanity, wit, generosity and intelligence of this man, and his generosity abounds here. Everyone should see this speech.

[Ranec16]

Man this speech is so inspirational, thanks for posting it, Jon seems to be a great guy.

[Phil6848]

He's soo brilliant!! I had a master class with him and it was amazing!

[harrykwingtongwong]

Jon is a classy and talented musician. He is also a human with humor and great perspective. His maturity and respect for music set up way apart from all of these young and loud piano technicians running around the World showing off his skill but they have no souls to share with anyone. Jon has all the skills these young kids have but his respect and interpretation of the music make him the top pianist in my book.

[bballman2108]

john's awesome....he's one of the nicest guys i've ever met....and one of the best piano players i have ever seen

[wangaling]

I've seen Jon in person many times!

He is such a funny nice man to be around.

[mUsr001]

haha who would've known?

i saw him a few days ago in berlin backstage and took a picture with him. he has a very nice character

[whizname7]

I didn't know anything Jon's propencity for humor. His words speak of hey, it's not the end of the world, man, just get up and give it another try and join the Loser's Club and be proud!

[caroldube]

Jon is one of the most talents musicians I know. And now I know that empathy is one of his talents as well. Plus this video is funny which helps us take the more serious comments to heart. Don't miss it!

Carol

[Pianomam]

And many thanks to YOU, Carol, for bringing Jon to our state conference! I will never forget meeting him and being so very inspired not only by his amazing performance, but also by the kindness that glows from him!

Debbie

[Jarvinia]

That was a really good speech. It really puts things in perspective.

[funauta]

I actually told Mr. Nakamatsu that I liked this speech when I got his autograph last weekend (after his awesome rach2 performance at SF). I also told him I got rejected from Jr. Bach and he said "welcome to the club!"

[LVB1770]

Jon Nakamatsu is so funny! I saw play the Chopin B Flat Minor at St.Patrick's Cathedral in San Francisco and he brought the house down! It was a full house too!

[arthursulit]

I can relate. At age 9-12 I kept on getting rejection letters from the losers club. They kept on giving me 1st places that I had to give up and pursue rock.

[junderover]

As a teacher I face this topic of competition daily among my students. John's words provided a much needed framework, enabling me and all of us, I think, to rethink this creative tension between personal development and competitive desire. Thanks, John.

[jenwam]

Thank you so much for putting this on YouTube. It was one of the surprising delights of the IPCOA 2007, and now I can send it to others of all ages who compete in all sorts of contests. And I'm definitely joining the Losers Club!

[stanpianist1]

I had a masterclass with Jon in Stockton California last year. He is certainly a fine pianist and amazing individual. I can only say it was an honor to get to work with him for 15 short minutes.

[martincello25]

man, really good speech! :)

[WIPACPianoComp]

Wonderful comments from a great pianist. Anyone 31 and older interested in attempting to become a "loser" (again) at the Washington International Piano Arts Council Competition in July is welcome to apply.

[lovepiano21]

Wow...I'm speechless! Thank you, Jon, for the wonderful message. I'm inspired! :)

[stchang88]

A hilarious speech from a fine pianist and a genuinely nice guy. Thank you, Jon!

[irenecannon]

I completely agree with Nickiebits! What a wonderful speech by a wonderful man!

[Nickiebits]

Jon's speech was amazing: awesome, funny, light-hearted, self-deprecating, sensitive, consoling, thought-provoking, and ultimately triumphant! I love hearing Jon at the keyboard, and having heard this speech, I love him ever so much more. What a great communicator! Jon's words applies to us all, whether we were competitors in the 2007 Van Cliburn Piano Competition For Outstanding Amateurs or not. You rock, Jon!

[jhDSaeRY]

Thank you for posting the video! This was certainly a great moment at the 5th IPCOA.

[swimgirlangel]

That was hilarious. I had the pleasure of sitting by Mr. Nakamatsu and hearing him play last summer, and it was great. It's nice to see a pianist with such a great personality and has an immense talent as well.