As I look back on this previous semester (my last semester) in San José State University, it was a rather intense one. I did not compose much music, but I “composed” a huge recital with 1 hour and 30 minutes worth of music. I think that it consisted all the “business” aspect of being a composer, which included looking for performers, printing and sending them music, constantly annoying them by e-mailing twice a day, setting up rehearsal times that had to match simultaneously up to five performers, remembering rehearsal times, be nice and not nice, keeping track on the progress of my pieces, printing posters, asking people to come (promoting), etc. These things all come down to a word – composing. Inevitably, they take that much more time than actually writing notes; so, I realize we composers rarely have time to write notes. My only advices for those of you who are doing a recital is that make sure you start early or even start rehearsing before a piece is finished! We composers or performers never have enough time, and in reality, we get even less time than expected. I think it is such a giving while we are all in college and can ask performers to do us “favors.”

After being very busy with graduation, taking my mum, sister (they came from Hong Kong for two weeks) and girlfriend to many places, I could finally find some time for myself. I have decided to compose, not with musical notes though, but with my camera. In August, I will start pursuing my master degree in composition at Bowling Green State University, and meanwhile, teach in either ear training or music theory.

First, thank you for your interest in Melos! In here, you shall find updates of our thoughts as well as musical and compositional developments. Since this is my first blog posting, I should start off introducing myself. I was born in Guangzhou and raised in Hong Kong. I did not begin studying music young. When I was twelve, I picked up the violin quite reluctantly, and started to participate in the school orchestra. Remembering all these crazy fingerings, never understanding the conductor, following the guys sitting in front of me, was harder than anything in this world. (Sorry, I had no idea…) So, what do you expect a twelve-year-old will do?

Like every others of my generation, I listened to pop music with my then expensive mp3 player while I was on a bus, out studying, eating lunch, etc. I thought it was even wonderful to have some soft “classical music” in the “background!!!” while I was doing something else. As I grew up, I slowly realized there is something in music that needs my attention. I started to play piano madly and passed the ABRSM grade 8th exam in less than two years. I never thought it was an achievement; (my mum did…) instead, this determination of my mind marked the beginning of my musical career. (I shall write an article about piano examinations in the future…)

Now, when people ask me to write tons of pop songs and become famous and rich and whatever, (now is the time of the year when I get these questions because I am currently on vacation in Hong Kong seeing friends and relatives) I often don’t know what to say! The easier understandable answer for most non-musicians is that I compose “classical music.” Well… let me get it right. I compose music that needs attention – music that needs to be listened to. (I am not saying that pop music does not needs attention) I do not want my music to be played in a restaurant while people are enjoying their meals; I do not want people to treat my music as soft background music, like the twelve-year-old ME!

Studying music is the best choice I have ever made in my life. I have thus opened my ears to a then unknown world of sound, and also enriched for the first time of my life, my sensitivity of hearing. Finally, it is not hard to understand and appreciate “classical music,” all it takes is your attention. Like all art, music is about communication. It is hard to speak to your hearts if you never respond. Let us open our ears, and I am sure all five of us have a lot to speak to you.