With wooden drumsticks in his hands, he beats the cymbals and the drums as if his hands and feet were in sync.
At the age of 4 , Hiroki Kitazawa, 21, music major, began playing the piano. However, he figured that he did not enjoy playing the piano and decided to play the drums at the age of 12.
“I saw a poster of a random guy playing the drum set, and decided I want to play (drums),” Kitazawa said.
After growing up in Nagoya, Japan, Kitazawa decided to study at EC where he joined the Applied Music Program.
While in the program, Kitazawa has worked with Dean Koba, a private drum instructor.
“He is a promising student: he’s consistent, hard-working and talented,” Koba said. “He is wise enough to ask for help.”
While growing up, Kitazawa was inspired by the drummer Akira Jimbo of the Japanese jazz-fusion band, Casiopea. Once he came to EC, Kitazawa’s source of inspiration became Koba.
“He showed me how to be a professional drummer and guided me step by step from when I was a beginning drummer for jazz music two years ago,” Kitazawa said.
Kurt Festinger, jazz ensemble instructor, said Kitazawa is a drummer at his most advanced level.
“I have no doubt that he will make it to a higher level because he is a hard worker, and that is what it takes,” Festinger said.
As a student who is considered a hard worker, Kitazawa said he spends up to four hours per day practicing on the drums.
The number of hours that he may spend practicing on a daily basis may also be the reason why he is able to make positive impressions.
“He is natural, fluent, fluid, has an easy confidence and always makes quite the impression,” Diane Lee, 19, music major, said.
Aside from making impressions, Kitazawa also wants to transfer to either UC Irvine or the University of North Texas because they have one of the oldest jazz departments in the country.
Aside from wanting to transfer to these universities, he wishes to become a professional freelance drummer for jazz bands.
“I enjoy watching Hiroki (Kitazawa) perform because he never fails to thoroughly enjoy himself as he plays. The music becomes an extension of his person and the audience can’t help but to catch on to his contagious energy,” Lee said.
