Inspiring Tunes

The internationally renowned pianist, Helen Lin graced the Carr Recital Hall with her presence as she taught a master class Monday, Oct. 22, along with music professor, Dr. John Irish.

"She's gonna bring that level of talent and musicianship," Irish said before the class.

All music majors were invited to the master class, where Lin performed with Irish and instructed individual students who had the chance to play for her.

Senior Chris Johnston was required to go to Monday's performance for his music class.

"I got brownie points," he said, "but it was mainly for me."

He also attended Lin's performance at the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts on Sunday, Oct. 21.

Johnston said Lin worked well with the students in the class and that he especially enjoyed her straightforward approach to things. Other visiting musicians go into too much technical jargon, he said, or go too far into depth.

"She's realistic," he said. "She likes to keep things simple."

"It's outstanding," Irish said about Lin's performances, "Her sound, her technique, her style. It's her unique personal stamp on the music she plays."

Lin said her father's interest in music made a huge impact on her life. Her parents primed her for success, and at the age of 6, she was taking piano lessons.

"Before I knew, I was a performing professionally," she said. "I was winning competitions."

She it takes a great amount of discipline to perform even simple pieces. Lin was born in Taiwan, where her childhood was one filled with discipline and strong morals. The competitions she entered at a young age helped prime her for winning the Taiwan Piano Concerto Competition and being voted one of the top eight musicians in the world at the Web Concert Hall International Competition.

Lin has spent 15 years teaching young musicians in Pennsylvania, and said her greatest joy comes when students make progress and when she guides them in "the right direction in their lives."

While in college herself, Lin avoided the party scene and focused on her music. All she did was go to class, practice, go to competitions and practice again.

"I'm one of the lucky pianists that didn't go through the rebellion stuff," Lin said.

Even if the students she reaches do not enter the music field, she said, they become a better person because it is in their lives.

"I think it improves the way we see the world," Lin said. "A more idealistic world we create in our minds and make into reality."