Tribute from Kei Otake

Kei Otake

This story about how Mr Krosnick and I met is one that I know he really liked telling other people about us. When I had my first preliminary lesson with him as I was applying to Juilliard, I went in with Bloch Schelomo and expecting to only get a page in like you do, he let me go through the entire piece which is an experience I still can't shake. We went over some other things too, but the part that he really loved was when we started talking, with my speech difficulties and his hearing, he said something or wondered aloud about understanding me. What he didn't know yet was I also have hearing problems and wear a hearing aid, and so on my phone I typed out for him "don't worry, I probably won't understand you either."

Which was a joke of course, because that was how our work began and it wasn't always fast, but during my time at Juilliard there was no person I felt closer to or felt like I had more of a friend in than Mr Krosnick.