Ikeda started classical violin at the age of three and studied with Yoshio Tsuda. In her mid-20s, she finally realized that it was all right to produce sounds which were not written in a score. Seeking true things in sound, she shifted to improvised music, which she continues to perform. In addition to improvisation, which is her main focus, she also plays violin and viola in various genres including theater music, recitation performance, bands, and experimental music.