Every year I tell myself I’ll cut back on teaching, yet this is the one part I can never let go of.
This year, the Erlun students put together seven chamber groups and one large ensemble. Each grade has its own goals, and as long as they achieve them, I consider the mission accomplished.
For the first-year junior high students, this trip was more about experience than results. Their role was to “take the hits,” to observe how others perform, to remember what doesn’t work, and to hold on tightly to the good music and moments they can learn from.
For the second-years, who went through that “trial by fire” last year, this time was their chance to truly compete. Their task was to present the best of what they’ve learned over the past two years, and then let the rest be decided by their competitors, and by fate.
For the graduating third-years, these years of music study have prepared them to hold their own on stage. Winning has become almost expected, but beyond playing well, they also need to treat performance as a complete presentation: music, presence, and stagecraft all matter.
The mixed junior and senior high ensemble spent their summer break rehearsing at their old elementary school. What began as scattered video and audio recordings eventually became polished performances, both musically and visually, thanks to their persistence.
The Huwei High School Attack on Harmonica Ensemble only had two formal rehearsals before the competition. Beyond that, everything was self-driven. They arranged their own music for both the competition and the Midday Concert, playing what they love. That, I believe, is exactly how their future should look, and their results this year were excellent!
In recent years, my approach to ensemble teaching has been about more than just refining the notes. I’ve wanted the students to look like real performers on stage, not just students. That’s why I spend time on listening, stage placement, and interaction, so that every performance shows not only music but also confidence. And finally, competition results are temporary. They’ll make you happy for a few months. But what matters most is to keep playing the harmonica, to stay in this community, and to move forward together.
Results:
Ensemble, Open Division – 2nd Prize
Ensemble, Youth Division – 1st Prize
Ensemble, Teens Division – 1st Prize
Ensemble, Teens Division – 4th Prize
Orchestra, Open Division – 2nd Prize
