I was given your weblink by Mitsuru Shimizu son of Masuo Shimizu. I grew up in Naperville, worked for Japanese companies 32 years and am married to a Japanese National. I've been a huge fan of traditional Japanese Koto and Shakuhachi music. Your sound has soul. Wonderful! Looking forward to hearing in person someday.
Greatly enjoyed the CWAJ Charity Concert. Music is beautiful and artistically performed--causes that feeling around the neck associated with spectacularly emotional music. Research scientist at MIT has recorded brain activity responses of individuals who react that way to music. Glad to be wired that way. Not everyone is.
Hi Curt and Bruce,
I attended the Amway concert 2 nights ago. You guys were fabulous. It was just an amazing experience to say the least. I was in trance during the 3rd song. I think you mentioned it was Magari Mizu. I wanted to hear you more, it was way too short.
I got to talk to Bruce after the show. I told him I am interested in going to fukushima to see you. One thing I know is that I will keep coming back to your shows.
And thank you very much for who you are and all these things you have done to Japanese. Bless you.
Hi Curt, Just thinking of you and Japan this morning. So beautiful to hear your music - I'm sure you are helping so many feel some comfort. All the best to you and I look forward to playing music together when I next!! Peace!
はなまる・・を見て検索しました。大学時代は邦楽部で１３弦を弾いてましたが、その後、まったくご無沙汰・・になりました。自分自身も練習するとともに、若い世代にも教えないといけないなぁ・・としみじみ思いました。ぜひ、お二人の演奏会に出かけたいと思います。ご活躍くださいませ。
I heard your music in Aizuwakamatsu City last month. I had great time with my friend. Thank you so much.
素敵なＨＰですね＊
素晴らしい演奏も聴くことができて『お気に入り』入りです。
紋付袴姿もとてもお似合いです＊
はじめまして、
さきほど（なんていう番組か忘れちゃったのですが）ＴＶを見まして、検索をした人です。
とっても素敵な演奏でした。
これからも頑張ってください
I have your music on my work desktop. How are you.? Love, Kpl
Ｍr、カート☆
こんばんは。山路です。
この前は福山でお疲れ様でした。
私のお弟子2人は、残念ながら予選をパスできなかったので、本選の日は行きませんでした（涙）
オーストラリアのアンドルーさんのことを話されていたので、もしコンタクトが必要なら言ってください。
すぐに連絡取れますから！！
とりいそぎ、ご連絡まで。
ではでは～～～
Hi Curt, Seems like only yesterday when you were a little boy taking piano lessons at my store. You were an excellent student. We in the states are very proud of your accomplishments. Bev
Watching you play 鳥のように today was wonderful. I cried (and wasn't the only one) and laughed and felt the life in your instrument. Thank you.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas--and I hope it's warmer/less snowy there than it is in Illinois! Come to think of it, Tokyo has never been as cold/snowy as it is in Illinois right now, so I think you're safe!
It was great to meet you last night, Yusuke. Let me know what you think of the CD after you've had some time to listen. Hope to see you again! Curtis
Hi Curtis!
Great concert at Ebisu!
Just wanted to say Hi and thanks for the CD!!
Jonny,
Thanks for visiting my site. Hopefully I'll get to North Carolina some time to catch up. Take care!
Ayaka,
I think everyone did a great job at the YIS Spring Concert. Looking forward to working with everyone from the fall!
Hello Mr.Patterson!
Its Ayaka from YIS :]
I just wanted to say thanks for helping us at the concert (again) !
Is it true you are going to become a YIS koto teacher from next year?
bye!
Hey there Curtis! This is Jonathan, Susan's little brother. She forwarded me some of your e-mails. Looks like you are doing great. I'm married w/ 2 kids (Lexi(girl) who is gonna be 5 in Oct and (Riley(hellion of a lil boy) who is gonna be 2 in June. Working as a CPA at the beach in North Carolina. It was nice to get updated on you. Take care.
Thank you Ryota! It was a great tour, and I feel like the performances were better and better with each concert. I hope that we can keep up some of that momentum here now.
Hikaru was (is) a member of Mephisto Pheles. The band reunited in 2001 for a 21 city concert tour, and I think that they are performing here in Tokyo once in a while. I can ask Hikaru when they are playing next, if you are interested.
Looking forward to seeing you and the rest of the ensemble soon at YIS!
Hey Mr. Patterson,
It's Ryota from YIS. I just wanted to thank you for your hard work on the NYC koto tour with us.
I was wondering what band did Hikaru Sawai play in as a heavy metal musician?
It was very nice meeting you at Mrs Fukuda's afternoon concert, I am Kanae's Tunisian friend . dear
Curtis and Bruce you played a song for me on that day ,It was very thoughtful of you and YOU PLAYED BEAUTIFULLY (^-^) Thank you.
I hope we will meet again.
Your friend from Besma Laribi.
GO GLOGAL !
杉本さん、メッセージありがとうございました。是非MUSICのところで音を聴いてください。まあ、会社でこのようなことをやっているのがばれない程度でね！今年は忘年会で私と一緒に、箏の二重奏を演奏することになっていますけれども、覚えていますか。そろそろ曲を決めないと！頑張りましょう！
こんにちは！ 良いＨＰですね～。
ご連絡を頂いてから、少々バタバタしてたものですから
ここに来るまで随分時間がかかりました。
演奏が聴けるんですか～？
今日はイヤホンを持っていないので、
次回の楽しみにします。
ただ、会社でしか拝見できないので
ゆっくり聴けないのは残念です。
では、またご連絡します。
カートさんとブルースさんのこれから益々のご活躍を期待しております。
ミワ
Thank you for sharing your website, music and pictures with me. Wonderful. I've bookmarked this page to come back to again and again.
Wonderful to hear from you Susan! So many fond memories of times spent with the Kays... I am busy with several different projects. Bruce and I are working on getting a new CD into production - deciding the order for the pieces, working with our designer and good friend Chuhei on the jacket layout and design - so many decisions to make! Bruce and I will be starting our spring tour in April with special guest Susan Osborn - it promises to be a great string of concerts all around Japan. Before the tour starts up, I will be spending about two weeks with the Yokohama International School Koto Ensemble (I am the new assistant director there), accompanying them on their tour to New York and New Jersey from March 12 to the 28th. There are about 9 concerts scheduled. WIll also be visiting sister Sharon in NJ for Easter. There's talk of a possible performance in Chicago in late July. More on that when things are clear....
Take care. Spring is really just around the corner!
Curt,
Love the website! (Who would have thought that you'd become a blogger!) The blossoms remind me that Spring is just around the corner. Just returned from skiing in West Virginia with the family. Cold temperatures and lots of fresh snow made for some great skiing! Now we're ready for Spring! Love hearing from you!
I guess this guestbook is a kind of blog. I'm not sure exactly what that means, but I'll try to write once in a while, to let people know what I am up to and thinking about.
Rokudan - RIght now, I am trying to balance my activities between the areas of teaching and performance.
I have about 15 private students who come to my home in Suginami-ku regularly. It is exciting to see the progress, especially with those students who started form zero with me. Just earlier today, for example, I was working with one on Kumoi Rokudan. This is the "Kaede" for the famous piece Rokudan. It is a complex piece written to be played along with the main "Honte" piece. I played Rokudan in the lower hirajoshi tuning (starting from G) while my student played Kumoi Rokudan in the higher kumoi joshi tuning (from D). This is one on the most important works for koto, and is truly one of my favorites - especially when played with this combination.
would love to read your blog. no blog???
やっと暖かくなってきたと思ったら、また週末は寒そうですねぇ。。。
クリスマスに忠平（さん）の家でお会いした滋賀の庄司です。
HP開設おめでとうございます。
関東でのコンサートは残念ながらなかなか行けないけれど、京都でコンサートするときにはぜひ聴きに行きたいと思っています。
COLD WHEATIES!!!
(I used to call you that in high school, remember? I'm sure it's a fond memory.)
It's your old friend, Chris Neesley. Scott sent me your info. I've always enjoyed koto music. I'll have to get one of your CDs. Congrats on all of your accomplishments--lovely music. I am the mother of three crazed children (Kate-12, David-9, Will-6). I live in Verona, WI (outside of Madison) and have been married to John for the last 18 years. Amazingly, I still like him. I paint and even sell my work on occasion. I visited Japan in'94 twice for business when I worked at Lands' End (catalog co.). We have an office in Shin-Yokohama. I toured around a bit and sweated like a pig in August. It's good to hear of you. Glad you are well.
All the best,
Chris
Love the site. Great to get schedule information. Also, the pics page if fun too. Love the Puget Sound photo. Our family has property on Anderson Island in the sound. Currently in the US ...and will be back in Tokyo soon. Will keep checking your site to find a date/place to come and see you play. Keep it updated! See you soon. elizabeth
Beautiful!
Snow on the pine bonsai.
I feel kusukusu,so it's exactly like you.
I hope you enjoy Sakura Tour.
See you!
Congratulations on the website. I'll watch for updates with interest and enjoy your tours vicariously. Maybe with a 2008 tour we'll be able to connect!
Create beauty! Best Wishes!
Trish
Beautiful site, Curt! Hope that it helps you spread the word about your beautiful music. Can't wait for our musical adventures together under the blossoms this April! Susan
Congratulations on the Website! What a wonderful way to hear about your great concerts and music. I look forward to your next tour in the US --- and I hope to hear you play in Japan sometime too! Have a wonderful Cherry Blossom Tour! Make sure you take pictures to post!
Curt,
The web site is great. Looks as though there have been alot of changes in your life lately.
Any chance we will see you in Geneva soon?
Peggy
What a great way to keep in touch with a dear friend! I will sip my sake and nibble on my sushi as I listen to my buddy CJP on the koto!
What a wonderful website, omedetou!!! We hope you'll be back in the US soon for another set of concerts, it would be great to hear you perform again. Else... rendez-vous in Tokyo again!
Curt,
This is so cool! Don't eat all the buiscotti at once or you'll get a tummy ache.
Love,
SB