Piano is music to 11-year-old’s ears

Fei Wu, 11, of Veron Hills placed first in the Sonata/Sonatina Festival at Harper College. | Special to Sun-Times Media

Updated: December 12, 2012 9:08AM

Fei Wu is making her mark in local music.

Wu, an 11-year-old fifth-grader in Vernon Hills, won the gold medal for her piano playing in the Sonata/Sonatina Festival at Harper College in November. She has played piano since she was 5 years old, and keeping up with her piano playing after moving from China to the United States when she was 10 was a given, she said.

She can’t imagine life without the piano.

Q. How long have you been playing piano?

A. I have been playing for six years. When I was 5, my mom got me my first piano, and I started to take lessons from a professional piano teacher from the music institute in Tianjin, China. I am the only one who has taken piano lessons since childhood. But my family loves music, and I am fully supported in learning piano.

Q. What does playing the piano mean to you?

A. Like any kid, it took some time before I really enjoyed playing piano. Practice can be boring, but once I can play beautiful music on my own and entertain myself, and others, it becomes fun.

Q. Was it difficult to continue playing with a new instructor after moving here from China?

A. At the very beginning, the language was a barrier to fully understand Susan (Swartz), my instructor. But I managed to pick up quickly with her help, since Susan is always very patient and considerate with my language level.

Q. How much time do you spend practicing piano and to what do you attribute your success?

A. I play 30 to 45 minutes every day. I have to say my instructor Susan is the key for my success. She caters her teaching to my level of music knowledge and skills. She points out my problems and provides ways to overcome them in the nicest way. I receive constant encouragement and praise from her that keeps me interested and more willing to improve.

Q. How is school in the United States different from in China?

A. The main difference in school between China and here is the workload. Children here have much less schoolwork than Chinese kids, but the school activities here are more fun.

Q. What does winning the first-place piano award mean to you?

A. I am very honored by winning the award. It’s good encouragement for me to play more and play better.

Q. Do you think you will continue to play piano throughout your life?

A. Definitely playing piano will be a part of my whole life. But I’d like to consider it as a hobby instead of a career.

Q. What advice would you give to other children who are interested in playing the piano or another instrument?

A. Practice persistently and find the music pieces you will really enjoy and a good instructor who is inspiring and knowledgeable.

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