by Alice Hamlet, Associate Director of Marketing
Wharton Music Center
This year, we decided to explore heretofore uncharted marketing territory through railway platform advertising at nearby Summit train station, one of Union County's busiest public transportation hubs. This was an exciting project from start to finish, including an afternoon spent capturing our fabulous model, New Jersey Youth Symphony parent volunteer Pingping, by photographer extraordinaire Alan Kaufman, who very generously volunteered his services for this project. Look for us at Summit train station and read Pingping's story below.
Wharton Music Center
Where are you from originally?
I was born and raised in Beijing, China.
What performing arts education did you have as a youth? Did you take music lessons as a child?
I didn't have the privilege to
take any music lessons as a child because of the Chinese Cultural Revolution.
During this period of time, Western music was banned altogether, conservatories
closed, and many artists and teachers were sent to do physical labor in remote
areas. The performing arts experiences I had were not aimed at creating art, but
mainly served as revolutionary
propaganda.
When did your children get involved in music?
When my children were four years old, they began music lessons at the Sundance School, a nursery school in North Plainfield, where they started
group violin lessons with Dr. Ted Schlosberg. He used the Suzuki method, in which
parents are actively involved in the child's musical development. Once a week, some of the parents and I attended his lessons for parents at the New Jersey Workshop for the Arts in
Westfield. He told the children, "Playing music is making magic!"
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| WMC NJYS Summit train station advertisement, running December 2014-February 2015. |
How did your children choose the instruments that they play?
After talking to my two nieces who loved
playing violin and excelled on it, I took my son to a group lesson, and he
liked it. My daughter, who was two years younger, was inspired after hearing
her brother play and decided to play the same instrument as he did.
When did they join the New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS)?
My
son, Alex, joined NJYS when he was starting third grade, with Ms. Barbara
Barstow, in OSTE (now Preparatory String Ensemble). My daughter, Emily, was in fourth grade. They
looked forward to joining the orchestra because they had heard great things
about NJYS from their teacher's older children.
How do you hope the arts will have impacted your children in the long run?
I
hope they learn to listen to their own hearts and be great contributors to
society. My husband and I will support them fully if they choose to be a
musician or an artist. We hope music remains an important part of their life if
they choose not to be a musician. I hope that they can connect the dots between
music, life, and their other interests, and become significant and lifetime
supporters of music and musicians.
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| Pingping's son, Alex, concertmaster of NJYS Youth Symphony. |
Why do you think arts education is important?
I think that the humility that comes from arts education is important; my children have learned many important virtues from music, whether it be developing a diligent work ethic or always striving to improve their playing. An education that incorporates the arts enables us to embrace our own imagination and creativity, to work hard and be the best we can be, and to be kind, tolerant, and thoughtful. The feelings performers bring out of the music transcend even spoken words. Furthermore, through orchestra, my kids have learned so many life skills from cooperation to understanding. From their private studies, they have learned how to approach a problem creatively and with integrity and to expect quality from themselves. From chamber music, they have learned how to listen and accept opinions as well as how to adapt quickly. They have made lifelong friends through music as well, who are all not only accomplished players but also some of the best students. To me, an arts education is synonymous to success in life and work because it provides many important lessons. It solves problems we face from the core and motivates us from deep inside.
I think that the humility that comes from arts education is important; my children have learned many important virtues from music, whether it be developing a diligent work ethic or always striving to improve their playing. An education that incorporates the arts enables us to embrace our own imagination and creativity, to work hard and be the best we can be, and to be kind, tolerant, and thoughtful. The feelings performers bring out of the music transcend even spoken words. Furthermore, through orchestra, my kids have learned so many life skills from cooperation to understanding. From their private studies, they have learned how to approach a problem creatively and with integrity and to expect quality from themselves. From chamber music, they have learned how to listen and accept opinions as well as how to adapt quickly. They have made lifelong friends through music as well, who are all not only accomplished players but also some of the best students. To me, an arts education is synonymous to success in life and work because it provides many important lessons. It solves problems we face from the core and motivates us from deep inside.
Wharton Music Center offers introductory group classes through its Pathways program, including Pathways to Cello, Pathways to Dance, Pathways to Piano, Pathways to Ukelele, and Pathways to Violin. To learn more about our programs and offerings, please visit www.whartonmusiccenter.org and www.NJYS.org.
