Courant Arts and Culture Courant Arts and Culture is a company founded by performing artists and educators. Recognizing the value in public performances and competition opportunities, as well as the importance in learning from professionals, our mission is to provide a platform for young musicians to develop into artists. Since its establishment, we have hosted multiple auditions and concerts so student musicians can be featured on stage with professionals to share our mutual passion and love for music with community members. For additional information, please click here, or the page named "Courant Arts and Culture" under the Special Projects tab.
Summer in Michigan Music Camp, 2014A 5-day camp designed to attract young musicians from the US and China, the Summer in Michigan Music Camp provides a good opportunity for young students to take applied lessons in a private and group setting, as well as in masterclasses. Students received daily theory/piano literature classes in addition to evening concerts. Group events were designed to help students learn about different cultures and to make friends across the world. Since joining the Oakland faculty, plans to expand the camp have been directed towards the OU Piano Camp. For information about OU's Piano Camp, please click here.
The Growth of a Musician, 2011-present A project launched in 2012, this is a series of lectures discussing issues such as basic technique, formal analysis (as relevant to performers), performance practice and musical/artistic interpretation. The targeted audience include faculty/students in the United States, China, and Taiwan. As a crossbreed between Chinese and American training, there is a particular interest and responsibility to share the difference and similarities between the two teaching systems. In addition, the excessive amount of information available is leading to more confusion than clarity. Therefore, a systematic explanation of what is expected of a musician in this era seems most beneficial and purposeful. Click here for updates on the Growth of a Musician Blog.
Call for Scores, 2011- 2012 A project led by Dr. Mia Hynes at the University of Central Missouri, the piano department has called out to composers all over the world to present new works written at the intermediate level. The faculty and students handpicked top nominees, performing these works at conventions and in recitals. The premier performance took place in April, 2012.
The Studzinsky Trio, 2008-2011 Members include Amy Yi-violin, Stephanie March-Cello, and Tian Tian-piano. First established at the Bowdoin International Music Festival in 2008, the Studzinsky Trio continued its collaboration at the Eastman School of Music. Since then, the trio has performed in the GAMPER festival, MTNA Chamber Competition, and Plowman Chamber Music Competition. We also presented concerts at the Studzinsky Hall at Bowdoin, Morningside College in Iowa, and Eastman School of Music and went on an extensive concert tour in China and Korea during the summer of 2011.
Johannes Brahms-Complete Paganini Etudes, Books 1 and 2 Numerous performances of this monument of the piano repertoire inspired special interests in placing the work in the history of the etude. Such issues include the different conception of the etude from those of Chopin and Liszt – regarding technique development and musical structure; as well as the relationship between variation and etude found in the work. Click here to watch a live performance.
Robert Schumann-Carnaval, Op. 9, 2009-10 Numerous performances of this masterwork and an advanced history course resulted in special interests in the nineteenth century performance practice and the idea of authenticity. A close study of treatises and recordings made by musicians and pedagogues of the era, in particular Cortot’s edition and performance of the Carnaval, opened up a wide range of discussion on timing, notation, ornamentation and overall musical interpretation. Click here for a live performance. Tian Tian Piano Center, Qingdao, China, 2009-present A special project sponsored by the Qingdao University Instrument Co. This program is devoted to providing the proper environment and resources for serious young pianists. As the head of the center, responsibilities may include regular master classes and private lessons, setting up student recitals, communicating between parents and teachers, giving advices on future studies, as well as seeing that students’ needs are being attended to and fulfilled. A charity concert was given in 2009, prior to the launching of the center to promote the importance of music to the general public, and as a way to return to the community for their continuous support of the arts.
Greater Detroit Chinese Association Youth Talent Concert, August, 2005 This was a series of events dedicated to the discovering and promoting of young musical talents in the Detroit area. Responsibilities included auditioning and choosing students for the master class and concert, giving a pre-talk and a master class, and performing in the concert. This was a very wonderful opportunity for students to meet each other, to participate in a high-level concert and for people to recognize their talents. All performances and events were done voluntarily without pay as a way for the musicians to thank the community for their support of the arts.