By Esther Yoo, Syracuse University
Hi everyone! My name is Esther Yoo, and I am from Tampa, Florida. I will be a junior this upcoming fall semester, studying Piano Performance at the Setnor School of Music in Syracuse University. Aside from practicing piano every day, I spend my free time reading novels, listening to music, baking, and rewatching episodes of Gilmore Girls, my favorite TV show. Although I am a classical pianist, my love for music extends beyond any single genre. I find that music brings people of all cultures and identities together, and is a way for us to strongly communicate at a higher level than through mere words. After completing my Bachelor’s Degree, I hope to pursue a Master’s Degree in music to further expand and elevate my artistry as a future performer and teacher.
This summer, I will be traveling to the city of Acqui Terme, Italy for the InterHarmony International Music Festival. I will be studying with and be able to network with other talented music students from all backgrounds, attend seminars, lectures, master classes, performances. In addition, I will have lessons and chamber coachings, which will be led by a renowned faculty of professional musicians from all over the world. Through my own piano lessons and chamber coachings, where I will be playing with other students in a small ensemble, I will gain insight and develop my artistry as a pianist.
Throughout this experience, the main themes I will be exploring and researching are the different ways music instructors apply pedagogical and musical interpretation methods at the piano. In other words, how do they guide and teach the students to help them produce the best sound and understand the music? Some questions I will explore are how do they aid students to refine their techniques, offer solutions to problems in a difficult piece, and improve tone and expression? To carry out my research, I will attend master classes, where I can directly observe live performances by students and hands-on teaching by the faculty. Being involved in lessons and chamber coachings as a student will also help me not only observe but experience teaching methods and what works best, and what works not the best. My work will be qualitative and observational.
By researching these questions, I hope to have gained new insight on how I can better perform and practice as a pianist and ways to interpret and analyze music on the scores. Taking on this curiosity in a foreign environment will help me see how different music education is compared to the U.S., where I only have been studying. By traveling to Italy, where classical music has a deep history and is still profoundly cherished and celebrated, I will experience a new perception in the traditions of classical music. As a festival participant, I will stay in one of the hotels in the city of Acqui Terme, where I will be!
Photo by InterHarmony International Music Festival
As I embark on this journey, I look forward to connecting with other students my age by sharing our talents and passion for classical music. I am excited to see live performances and learn, most of all. During this, I am sure that I will strengthen my musicianship and become even more passionate. Aside from the musical aspect of this trip, I am also looking forward to excursion days provided by the music festival. We will be going to Turin, the capital of Piedmont, and the Italian Riviera. I have always wanted to see Italy’s beautiful historical buildings, towns, and views of nature. I am highly grateful for this life-changing opportunity to be in a gorgeous country, and experience the culture of classical music!
Ciao!
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