“I fell in love with music when I was five, making noise on the piano”: An Interview with music/composition instructor Dr. Chiayu Hsu

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I believe art brings joy.

Whether Dr. Hsu is composing original music for the London Sinfonietta, or the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, you can be sure Dr. Hsu has the listeners’ ears in mind. Dr. Hsu’s work has been recognized the world over, though UW-Eau Claire students are lucky to work with Dr. Hsu daily in their music classes. This summer, you can, too!

1.)   Tell us a bit about your “art origin story”?  When did you first fall in love with your art?

I fell in love with music when I was five, making noise on the piano.  Later on, I heard beautiful piano music and wanted to learn more about music and eventually decided to study composition to write my own music.

2.)   What role have teachers played in your development as an artist?  Any one stand out?

I had this amazing music teacher at my junior high school who volunteered to help me with my aural skills during lunch time for three months.  This made a huge impact of helping me get into music schools.  His dedication inspired me to be an educator.

3.)   Can you share a bit about your pedagogical approach?  How do you create a supportive and creative atmosphere in the classroom?

I love games, so I like to use short musical games to motivate students in the creative process.  I also believe in learning through peers, so students are divided into groups to create team compositions.

4.)   What excites you most about the Midwest Artist Academy?

This is a unique camp to have various art forms taught in a location throughout the week.  I’m most excited about creating a final project which would be a joint effort of all the participants.

5.)    How can art make the world a better place?  Can you share a personal example?

I believe art brings joy.  I once went to a jail with my colleague.  The inmates were sharing their thoughts about the world and became irritated.  Then, they were encouraged to sing some songs which calmed them down.  It was a much more peaceful atmosphere afterwards.

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“Creative work begins with trust and risk.  But which comes first?”: An Interview with theatre instructor Dr. Arthur Grothe

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“How can art not make the world a better place?”: An Interview with dance instructor Kathryn Ann Key