Lixin Zhang
Masterclass with Lixin Zhang
Christina Arapai — June 17, 2024
This term Westburn Alumni, Lixin Zhang, visited Westburn to hold a masterclass with our SMP students. In order to learn from his expertise, our students prepared questions to ask about his time in the programme.
When you were in SMP, for how long did you practise each day?
I practised most days for about two hours, sometimes more. When you are practising it is important to listen to your playing. Always practise slowly - slow is the fast way to learn.
How do you go about memorising music?
Listen to the music and know where the music goes. Train your muscle memory. Know the structure of the work and look for patterns in it.
Did you play other instruments apart from the piano?
Yes, I learnt the violin and obtained an LTCL certificate. My advice is for you to learn one instrument really well, plus another instrument to a good level. But don’t learn five or more instruments and think that is great. You cannot do justice to them all.
How did you manage to balance SMP commitments with your other school work?
You must be well organised and have a supportive, engaged parent. Learning music helps your academic learning. Music is a discipline which gives you focus for learning in other curriculum areas. It helps you to be a better and more able student at school.
How did you benefit from remaining in the SMP class throughout your time at Westburn and then after moving to Burnside High School?
I moved from my local primary school to Westburn to join SMP. My piano teacher, Mr Baird, loved the programme and encouraged me to apply and join the class. I loved the positive feeling in the class and being able to play and learn with like-minded able students. We all learned together and grew from our mistakes and improved in our playing. Remaining in the programme helped with the transition from Westburn to Burnside High School especially with the relationship between key people at the two schools. Staying in the programme reads very well on your curriculum vitae as it shows stability and commitment.
Did you ever have a time when you wanted to give everything up?
Yes, but when I worked on the difficult things over time, they became easier. You need to develop resilience and perseverance in life so that you are able to achieve goals. Good things take time to achieve.
