Antoine Sugita

Which musician has influenced you the most?
Debussy for the musical landscapes he created, the textures and beautiful harmonies in his pieces. Bill Evans for his touch, sensibility with the piano, and the way he explored jazz in a new way.

What can you teach me on your instrument better than any other teacher?
The fact that the piano and the way you play it is not just for a musical purpose, but also a school of life. Freeing yourself from judgment, accepting the process of learning and taking pleasure while doing it. This mix of technique, structure and improvisation will also be useful in the everyday life.

How did you learn to play your instrument?
I started early (5 years old), and I remember playing very morning before school, at lunch break and after school. It was part of my everyday life, and I never questioned the why I was doing it. It just seemed natural to me. And when I was 30 years old, travelling the world, after 6 months, I had to buy myself a small electrical piano, because I missed it so much ! This is when I started composing my first songs.

How do you usually approach writing a song or composing a piece?
Exploration, sometimes with just a note, or one chord. Closing my eyes and just listening to the piano and connect to what I feel. I am not making any complicated progressions. I search for what feels right at that time. Then a melody comes up, a few words … Then starts the song writing process that may take months to complete !

What equipment do you play on today?
Piano Pheonix S. It’s the best electrical piano that I have tried. The touch is very nice for a pianist, the quality of sound is amazing and it is the piano that I use for everything, even concerts.

Which personal quality has helped you the most when practicing?
Patience. I understand that there is a method, a process that will take time to master a piece. Being very clam, I managed to deal with all the frustrations that musicians face when practicing hard pieces.

What makes your instrument unique compared to others?
The piano is my confident. He is a powerful instrument that can say so many things, transmit so many emotions, and give each pianist a full range of possibility. And the best thing about it, it that he can be very independent (solo) and also a great accompaniment for others to shine.

What do you pay particular attention to when teaching?
A good technique from the start because I know that not having it may cause harm to the student. It is not the most important thing (pleasure) but I do focus on it on a regular basis. I also focus on the student’s energy. Looking at the face to see if he/she is struggling and/or having fun. Taking the time to improvise at the end of the lesson in always a goos way for me to share a moment with them.

How do you typically structure your lessons?
Short practice time with scales, rhythm, theory. Then playing the piece that they worked on. Feedback and exercises that will help their understanding of the piece or technique that is missing. Work on the next part. Improvise.

How do you teach children?
It is quite the same for me actually. I have this ability to connect quickly and bring fun into classes. I change slightly my vocabulary to make this easily understandable for them. But I never limit them ! The real lesson I learnt is that they actually learn faster than adults. As they are less afraid to fail, they go straight forward and succeed because of the trial and error process.

What has been your greatest experience as a musician so far?
I have the chance to play with my father on stage. He is my role model. A great musician is great in all musical styles : classical (40 in a national orchestra), jazz, composition, improvisation, Irish music, and so on. Our music is a mix of our two personalities, and sharing it to our audience is a great gift.

What is the biggest stage you have ever performed on?
Theaters and Festivals. Our audience is usually around 200 persons. But we love to play in intimate places like home concerts, galleries, where we see everybody’s eyes while playing.

Which musician would you most like to perform with one day?
Other writers and singers like Grand Corps Malade, or Gael Faye, in order to bring our musical universe to their world.

If you could only take one album to a desert island, which one would it be?
Conversation with myself from Bill Evans.

Which stage or venue would you most like to perform on, or where do you most enjoy performing?
Anywhere with people ready to listen. I honestly don’t dream for a special stage. The most important thing for the is the good sound, the silence in the room, and a quality moment after the show.

Besides music, what is most important in your life?
Helping others learn about themselves through music and writing.