Every young music student has undoubtedly considered the prospect of The Juilliard School at some point or other. You can’t study the arts and not have heard of it – it’s one of the hottest schools on the planet!
I started studying with Jarred Dunn almost 10 years ago and was impressed that he had studied there. To hear him talk of Juilliard professors as real people with profound teaching capabilities, I was honoured to have even this distant connection with them. His most influential teacher there was Yoheved “Veda” Kaplinsky. He shared stories of his lessons with her and how she changed his musical life. He also told me some of her musical ideas about pieces I was learning that he had studied with her. I was fascinated and always impressed. I guess you could say I knew of her as a larger-than-life figure because she runs the piano department of one of the most famous schools in America!
Hearing stories about Veda Kaplinsky or watching her master classes on YouTube is informative and inspiring, but it doesn’t prepare you for the exhilaration of hearing her speak directly to you about your playing. This past week, I finally got that chance. It was such an honour and I learned so much!
I pre-recorded my piece – Beethoven 32 Variations in C minor – which was sent to Kaplinsky and all participants ahead of time. This took a bit of the pressure off for the day of, but you never know what to expect with these things! Last time I participated in a pre-recorded master class I ended up playing almost the entire piece in the class anyways! Since you never know what to expect, you have to be ready for anything (kind of like going to Juilliard I imagine).
Jarred Dunn and Veda Kaplinsky, The Juilliard School:
Unlike other master classes I’ve performed in, this time I didn’t play a single note! I listened intently to Veda talk and play while I fervently took notes. It all felt like a whirlwind. I absorbed so much information that it took a few days to sort it all out in my head. To prepare for a class like this, you’ve already got a set idea in your mind about what you want the piece to sound like. Then, a new perspective comes straight at you: change this, change that, that place could be more… etc, etc. But as I tell my students- the more different ways you play something, the stronger and more secure it becomes. It also offers more options to work with in the moment of performance. Because let’s face it, things don’t always go exactly as planned!
A special thank you to Jarred Dunn for organizing this. Such an incredible experience, as always. I hope to play for Veda Kaplinsky again!