The 2007 International Web Concert Hall
Competition
(Honorable Mention)
Jing-I Jang (Taiwan - Harp)
Tell us about your musical background.
 I
remembered when I was about pre-school age, both of my two order sister
had piano lessons. At that time, I also wanted to take piano lessons,
but my mom thought I was too young to take lessons. Therefore, I often
sat in front of the piano and just pretended that I was playing music. Later, both
my sisters stopped playing and my mother didn’t want me to take lessons
until I was first grade... I started music by participating
a group music instruction, which also involved other activities. That was one-year program. After that, my mother thought that’s enough for me, but I
really wanted to have one-on-one piano lesson.... I started taking private piano lessons
when I reached third grade... which was
supported by my aunt.
When I was turning sixth grade, my piano
teacher suggested that I can apply for special music class in the middle
school, which would require a secondary instrument for the entrance
exam. I picked a traditional Chinese instrument called Gu Zheng (see the
pictures).
.
After I entered the music class in the
middle school, I was assigned to play in a Chinese orchestra, but I
didn’t like it because I really wanted to be able to play in the
symphony orchestra like most of my classmates did. So, I picked harp,
since there were only few harp players in the school. I had kept three
instruments throughout middle to high school. When I auditioned for the
college, I decided to have piano as my major and harp as my minor. After
all, I like piano and harp better than the Chinese instrument, but I had
never owned a harp (I got my first harp just one and a half year ago),
so my harp practice time was very limited all these years.
Who were your teachers?
My first harp teacher was Chi-An Lin. Then
I studied with Shannon Chieh before I came to study in the US. And I have been
studying with Ann Yeung at the University of Illinois. Besides that, I
have had participated in many master classes with many other renowned
harpists. Sometimes, they were very inspiring and stimulating to me. I
am really thankful that I have had very dedicated teachers throughout my
study. They are so
passionate in teaching and helped me to develop full potential and
confidence in harp my playing ( I was never confident in harp playing before
until I attended the college).
How did your teacher influence you as a musician? I was influenced to become an artist rather
than a harpist or pianist by both of my harp teacher, Dr.Yeung and
piano teacher, Dr. Timothy Ehlen when I studied at Illinois. They have
broaden my musical knowledge to be more creative,
open-minded, listen to myself and also be myself when playing, not only
the sound I produce, but more importantly, the musical ideas that I want to convey
to the audience.
How did your friend, parents, etc.
influence you as a musician?
My parents are always supportive and respect to any of my decisions
that's related to my study and career. Although in the beginning, they didn’t
want me to take music lessons, because both of my sisters
quit playing after couple of years.
I am also very blessed to have
an opportunity to serve as a church pianist and become a Christian, which have
provided me to share music with people and give praise to God
through music.
Do you have a practicing method you follow everyday?
I don’t have a certain method that I follow everyday. I
mostly studied technical etudes during the four
years of undergraduate study. Now, I maintained a list
of repertoire everyday. I also do a lot of mental practice... when
I feel physically exhausted or when I am not practicing the harp.
How do you select repertoire for your recital?
In the past couple years, I had enjoyed
participating some international harp competitions, from which I gained
experiences and found out my own weakness by listening other players. It
also broadened my mind and helped me to improve. When I prepare a competition, I just selected those repertoire from
my recital.
What period music do you enjoy playing
the most and why?
Most harp solo music was composed after
mid-late nineteenth century. However, as a pianist, I really enjoy
playing Baroque music, particularly Bach’s music, which I enjoy playing
the layers of beautiful voices. Sometimes, I don’t enjoy playing some
contemporary music as much as other periods of music... which doesn’t mean
that I don’t like all contemporary music. I still enjoy playing some
contemporary pieces that have stronger rhythmic structure.
In your opinion, what is
your strength in your playing?
I believe my playing is neutral, which it
can also be related to my personality.
I am not an emotional or dramatic type of
person, so in my playing, sometimes it may sound too mild….might be lack
of contrasts or need more dramatic moments.
I feel this can be my strength in one way,
but could also
be
my weakness.
What do you hope to accomplish as a musician?
As a musician, I hope I can always have a
stage for me to perform as a soloist, chamber group, or in a large
ensemble and share music with people. I am also enthusiastic and
interested in teaching, and wish I can influence my students not only to
be a good musician, but also to find a meaningful purpose in their life.
What do you do for
hobby, if any?
Besides music, I think my daily life is
very simple. I an involved in many church related activities. I think
relationships between families, friends or people that you are with is
very precious. I wish to be more caring person, especially to those who are
in need.
What was the music
that changed your life?
In brief, music leads me to know
God, to help me find a real purpose that God planed for me.
Can you share some
of your experience in your life on how music has lead to God?
My
first piano teacher was a Christian who took me to a church to play piano every Sunday service since I was fifth grade. Because of that,
I also attended Sunday school every other week. Thus, I came
to know God and who Jesus is. Since then, I had been the pianist in that
church until I left my home town for the college. None of my family member
was a Christian, I was the first because of music. I also feel that the
music has to be connected to something greater than myself, like the
Universe, and my Universe is God who created everything.
What was the event
that changed your life?
I remember in the summer after the college graduation... I
participated in my first and biggest harp competition (5th
USA International Harp Competition). Actually, I only had a very short
time to prepar for the competition because I had my senior piano recital in
the same month. In the beginning, I didn’t
really want to participated in the competition; one reason was that I had never traveled abroad by
myself, so I felt intimidated. However, I was strongly encouraged by my
harp teacher Ms. Chieh, and she worked very hard with me, and even helped
me get an affordable plane ticket. So, finally I came to the States for
the competition. Because of the competition, I also met Dr. Ann Yeung,
who later offered me the assistantship to study at the University of
Illinois. My life would have been totally different if I didn’t
participate this
competition. I had never thought of being able to study abroad after
the college due to my family’s financial situation. After I earned my
bachelor degree, I had decided to be a general music teacher in a middle
school. Sometimes, life doesn’t go as you planed, does it?
Tell me more about your undergraduate experience? In your opinion, do
you find there is difference in the harp training in US vs.
Taiwan?
In
Taiwan, two instruments (one major and one minor) were required for the
entrance exam to the music departments of any universities. Of course,
the major instruments are much more focused by most students during
their undergraduate studies... while minor instrument is only
required for two or three years of half-hour weekly lessons. As for the
harp training, I don’t think there is much difference in US vs.
Taiwan…if there is, I would say probably most large-scale music schools
in the US offer more related course in addition to weekly one hour lesson,
such as harp pedagogy or literature. Beside that, I think it mainly
depends on the harp instructor. Although I was piano major during my
undergraduate study, there was no harp major student at the time, therefore, I
had chance to play in the orchestra
and other ensembles whenever the harp was needed. Ms. Chieh was also
very dedicated and passionate in teaching that she would always teach
and demand her students as a harp major student, even if the harp may be
his/her minor instrument.
As a doctoral candidate
in harp performance and literature, what is your focus on your thesis?
My thesis title is “Introduction and Variations on Bellini’s “Norma,”
Op. 36 for harp with orchestral accompaniment ad libitum by
Elias Parish Alvars, which I plan to
arrange and write historical analysis.
Will you be giving a lecture recital too? If so, in what? I
will be giving a project recital in both the solo and orchestral
accompaniment versions of this piece.
In your opinion,
what are the characteristics of a good performer?
I think a good performer’s music is being connected with the
audience. If his/her playing or performance inspires the listener, touch
someone’s heart, or even change someone’s life, that’s very successful
and meaningful.
What are some of your upcoming musical project?
I am currently working on my thesis, which includes a project
paper along with a project recital... and I plan to finish that by early
next year. My advisor and I also proposed a presentation and performance
for the
Elias Parish Alvars
Festival held in his birthplace in
Teignmouth,
England in late February.
I
see that you hold 2 master degrees. Can you tell us more about each
degrees you earned?
Because I was offered the harp teaching assistantship, I was able to
come to U of I to study and pursuit my harp master degree. However,
since I was a piano major during my undergraduate study, I did not want
to stop taking piano lessons when I came to US, so I took piano lessons
with Prof. Ehlen and also attended piano studio classes regularly. Right
when I started harp DMA program, I had a chance talking to my piano
professor that I was also interested in teaching piano in the future if
possible and had been thinking of getting a second master degree in
piano pedagogy. After I asked for his advice, he answered,” why not a
master degree in piano performance?” So, I started preparing for the
repertoire and passed the audition. I was pursuing both DMA (harp) and
MM (piano) at the same time during my first and second year of DMA.
Although I have to admit that it is really hard to keep both instruments
and spend a lot of time practicing... a good time management and practice
strategy is very important.
Do
you think the idea of competing in a digital environment an alternative
solution to some performers who may have problem with their visa or
financial status for traveling to abroad?
I like this idea a lot, especially for me. While I searched
on the internet to see if there are any competitions or auditions opened
for any instruments or for debut recital, most of them are held in New
York City. They usually don’t provide harps, so the best way is to carry
your own harp or rent one. It is, sometimes, costly to carry your own
harp for traveling to a far distance.
On be half of the Web Concert Hall, we
would like to thank you for your time and we wish all the success.
Interviewed by
Webconcerthall on November, 2007
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