Martha

A Brief Musical Background of
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Martha Yasuda

Martha (Lewis) Yasuda grew up in Lynchburg, VA and studied violin with Suzuki teacher-trainer, Rudy Hazucha. Mrs. Yasuda received her collegiate music degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, studying violin with Zvi Zeitlin and Charlie Castleman. She also studied with William Starr at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN during her junior year.

After meeting her husband, Ken, and having children, Kenny and Hannah, Martha freelanced with many different orchestras for a number of years (the Rochester Philharmonic, the Savannah Symphony, and the Greenville Symphony, to name a few) and she always had a teaching studio.

In 2002, while living in Atlanta, GA, Martha started writing her first two books, Christmas Melodies: Double Stop Solos and Duets, Volumes I and II For Violin. Mr. William Starr, her former professor, was very encouraging regarding her writing efforts, taking the time to review the materials she sent him, and he warmly endorsed her work in his Foreword. Martha’s husband, Ken, also played a vital role as he helped her start The Yasuda Music Company LLC that enabled her books to be self-published and sold online. He also developed very effective, targeted, direct mail campaigns that brought visitors to our Website, www.YasudaMusic.com.

A little later, when Martha was interested in transcribing her Christmas Melodies books for the viola, she approached Mr. William Preucil, Sr., Professor of Music (Emeritus) at The University of Iowa, to have him examine her arrangements and possibly write a Foreword. Professor Preucil was most gracious with his time and comments and, like William Starr, was very encouraging to her. In his Foreword, he characterized Martha’s arrangements as being “expertly written and carefully edited for the student and they delight with originality and flair.”

In an effort to devote more time to writing, Martha pulled out of most of the freelance orchestras and blocked out time every day to arrange music before and after teaching students. As a result, her writing expanded year by year, as more and more ideas came forth. She also spent a great deal of time learning to use the Finale music software, which paved the way for her to start her own music publishing business. In 2007, she began writing music in the orchestral arena as well, arranging music for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Education concerts.

In 2007, Martha entered into a three year contract with Alfred Publishing Company, Inc. (Alfred had purchased Warner Brothers Music Publishing in late 2005 and is the sole distributor for the Suzuki Method instructional materials worldwide), where The Yasuda Music Company LLC published Christmas Melodies: Double Stop Solos and Duets, Volume I For Violin and Alfred distributed these books. Due to a change in direction, she decided not to renew her contract with Alfred.

Martha feels very fortunate to be able to express herself through arranging music and gives all glory to God for the creativity she has been given.