SAN FRANCISCO – The Steinway Showroom was brimming with music lovers last Saturday for a master class taught by Chinese classical music star Lang Lang during his week in residency with the San Francisco Symphony.
The international music sensation, who came from humble beginnings in Beijing, China, has been hailed for bringing a new, young flavor to the classical music scene. Indeed, many say that Lang – dressed that day in a stylish dark denim suit and matching black and gold Adidas Superstars – has made classical music hip again.
Four lucky local piano students were selected for the master class, but many budding pianists were also present, pulling out hefty volumes of Beethoven and Mozart as makeshift writing surfaces to take notes, and Lang’s mother sat in the front row.
Lang’s teaching methods were somewhat unorthodox, as he pushed students to connect with their music on a more intimate level and described various shifts in tempo and volume through metaphors of “completing shapes” and “waves” of different sizes. Lang even advised one pupil to create a “mini-earthquake” midway through his song. Using facial expressions, voice, sweeping embellishments of his arms and well-timed stomps of his feet, Lang interacted simultaneously with student, song and audience.
Allison Rabbit Cheng, the youngest of the students at 8 years old, received both praise and advice from Lang on her performance of Rachmaninoff’s “Elegie, Op. 3 No.1,” while Alex Chien’s performance of Mozart’s “Sonata in D, K.576″ left Lang momentarily speechless. Only 10 years old, Chien delivered a nearly flawless performance. Lang, advising Chien, excitedly took the bench for a moment to model the correct execution of the piece, and his demeanor changed instantly from goofy and playful to the more somber disposition required of the piece.
Earlier that afternoon, Lang had signed pianos for auction. For each signed piano sold, Steinway promised to donate $1000 to the American Red Cross’ China earthquake relief fund.
What an opportunity for the four lucky students that were chosen for this master class. It does not surprise me that Lang occasionally was unorthodox in his teaching methods.
I’m sure the experience was awesome for the students in question.