Spending the Summer Here (II) - About Music

In the previous blog, I mentioned that I basically stayed in the Champaign-Urbana area during the summer break and shared some fun activities I did here. This blog will continue to share the music-related activities I participated in during the summer.

• Illinois Summer Youth Music Clarinet Session Accompanist

At the end of June, I served as the accompanist in the Illinois Summer Youth Music (ISYM) clarinet session. I enjoyed cooperating with these young musicians; they were very lovely and all had a good sense of music. Not only did I gain valuable accompaniment experience, but I also deeply explored some of the greatest clarinet pieces, including the E-flat major sonata by Brahms, the concerto by Mozart, and so on. Although the rehearsal time was only about half an hour each time, I would answer their questions in as much detail as possible, or occasionally give some music expression suggestions. If they couldn't find the entrances after long rests in the music, I was more than happy to help. While assisting them, I also somehow unintentionally sharpened my oral communication skills for music! In the final concert on the last day of the camp, seeing the students confidently stand on the stage and perform beautiful music, I was really proud of them!

• Summer Piano Institute

At the end of July, I participated in the piano institute held by the school. This program had strong faculty, and the students were pianists of different ages from different regions. I was happy to meet new friends at the welcome party on the first evening. Though it was only a one-week program, the schedule was very tight. Almost every morning I had private lessons, in which I learned piano skills and studied repertoires with respective teachers. Master classes were held every afternoon for participants to observe each other’s performances. Students also had a chance to play once in one of them. Concerts were arranged in the evenings, including solo, ensemble, or concerto performances by the teachers with a variety of repertoires. On the last day, there were student concerts, in which everyone took turns to play a solo piece, showing the results of hard work over the week as well as encouraging each other. It was such a fruitful and fulfilling week!

These two music events have truly benefited me a lot! Even though each only lasted for a week, both have become precious memories of my summer vacation in 2022.

Chin-Hsuan Sharon Cheng (written in Sep. 2022)



Traditional Chinese:
在這裡的暑假時光（二） - 音樂篇

上次跟大家提到我基本上暑假都留在學校這邊，也分享了我在這裡做的一些休閒活動，這篇則接續來分享我暑假期間在學校參與的音樂相關的活動。

• 在暑期夏令營擔任伴奏

六月底時，我在學校舉辦的青少年夏令營擔任單簧管學生的伴奏。每位學生都很可愛也很有個人特色和音樂性，我非常高興能跟許多年輕音樂家們合作，除了累積一次可貴的伴奏經驗，也藉此更深入認識了一些經典的單簧管名曲。雖然每次和伴奏練習的時間只有短短半小時左右，但我盡可能詳細地回答他們的疑問，或偶爾提一些建議的音樂處理方法，如果他們找不到休止符後音樂何時進來，我也非常樂意幫助他們，幾天下來我更是無意間精進了自己對於音樂的口語表達能力。夏令營最後一天的結業音樂會，看到學生們自信地站上舞台演奏，我為他們感到驕傲！

• 鋼琴音樂營

七月底時，我參加了學校舉辦的鋼琴音樂營。這個音樂營師資陣容很好，而且學員集結了來自許多地方、不同年齡的鋼琴家，我在第一天晚上的歡迎宴上也認識了新朋友。音樂營雖然只有短短的一週，但課程安排十分緊湊，近乎每天上午我都有一對一的課，每天和不同老師學習琴藝，下午則是公開大師班，可以互相觀摩同儕的演奏，每位學生也都有一次上台接受指導的機會，晚上則是近乎每天安排了一場音樂會，有老師們的獨奏、重奏或協奏曲等演出，曲目豐富多樣。在音樂營的最後一天有三場學生獨奏音樂會，大家輪流上台演奏這幾天辛苦學習的成果，互相鼓勵。這樣整天接觸音樂的一週令我覺得很充實。

我在這兩個音樂活動中受益匪淺，雖然都各只有短短一週的時間，但都已成為了我2022年暑假珍貴的回憶。

Chin-Hsuan Sharon Cheng (2022年9月)