Eri Yoshimura

Eri Yoshimura, born in Osaka, Japan, earned a music education degree from Shinshu University before moving to Denton, Texas. There, she obtained Master’s and Doctorate of Musical Arts degrees in piano performance from the University of North Texas under Dr. Pamela Mia Paul with a related field in Music and Medicine under Dr. Kris Chesky. Dr. Yoshimura has performed solo, chamber and four-hands recitals in USA (including Hawaii), Japan, Mexico, and Hungary (Franz Liszt International Festival). She and Hungarian pianist, Emöke Ujj, released their first album together, “Contemporary Piano Music for Four Hands”, which contains the works by four living composers. All compositions in this album were specifically composed for Emöke and Eri.

Dr. Yoshimura’s scholarly research has focused on understanding and preventing piano-related medical problems. Her research papers were published in the Medical Problems of Performing Artists journal 2006 and 2008 and in the MTNA E-journal 2009. Her dissertation focused on the possible application of an ergonomically modified keyboard (a narrower-sized keyboard) for reducing piano-related pain among small-handed pianists. In April 2006, she performed on the 15/16-sized keyboard in one of her doctoral degree recitals; this performance marked this keyboard’s concert premiere. She has presented her research in conferences at Aspen (PAMA), Chicago (NCKP), Serbia (EPTA) and England (RNCM). As a doctoral student at UNT, she won outstanding researcher scholarships for her work in music & medicine and was featured on the university homepage, magazines, and regional TV news reports and radio. She is currently using the 7/8-sized keyboard to teach her students at the Gray School in Dallas.

Publications

Yoshimura, E. Risk factors for piano-related pain among college students and piano teachers: Possible solutions for reducing pain by using the ergonomically modified keyboard. University of North Texas, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2009. 3399464

Yoshimura, E. Chesky, K. The Application of an Ergonomically Modified Keyboard to Reduce Piano-Related Pain. Music Teachers National Association E-Journal. (2009). 1(2), 2-13.

Yoshimura E, Fjellman-Wiklund Paul, Aerts, Chesky.  Risk factors for playing-related pain among piano teachers.  Medical Problems of Performing Artists: 23(3): 107-111.  2008

Chesky K, Yoshimura E; Furuya S   Hand size and PRMDs in Japanese female pianists.  Medical Problems of Performing Artists  2007. 22(1):39-40

Yoshimura E, Paul PM, Aerts C, Chesky K.  Risk factors for piano-related pain among college students. Medical Problems of Performing Artists.  2006.  21(3):118-125