China’s Humble Maestro Tutors Piano Prodigies

 

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A dedicated teacher

 

Dan, an energetic 65-year-old, grew up in China’s western hinterlands near the city of Chongqing. His music-loving physician father acquired a piano. “We had a set time to practice. I would secretly turn the clock ahead so I could play less time,” Dan says, breaking out in hearty laughter.

 

Impish and given to easy chuckling, Dan feels most at home when teaching his students one-on-one. He now has 13 students—ranging in age from 10 to 18—and spends at least two classes a week with each one.

 

“He puts extremely strict requirements on the students during class. But in his spare time, he treats students as if they were his own children,” said Zhang Xiaolu, the mother of Li Yundi, the now 23-year-old Chinese pianist who won the Chopin competition in 2000.

 

Dan believes that competitions are necessary for professional development. “In the marketplace, you have to win an international award and become well known. Only then will people pay to see you perform,” he explains. Moreover, “competition provides a platform where talented players can exhibit their abilities.”

 

A father forever

 

Dan guides most of his students for much of their lives, ensuring broad technical mastery, boundless vigor and a relaxed style. “I’ve trained most of my students from the very beginning,” Dan says. “They’ve been with me for a long time. I’ve given them a very strong foundation.”

 

Former students are so fond of Dan that they frequently return to his side. Chen Sa, a former student who has gone on to live in Europe, returned for guidance from Dan while preparing for the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition held in Texas last May.

 

“He’s my ‘forever’ teacher,” says Chen, 25. “As we Chinese people say, if one day he’s your teacher, then he’s your father forever.”

Vocabulary Focus

impish (adj) [5impiF] showing a childlike pleasure in being playful and acting mischievously

given to (idiom) likely to do something, especially something regularly or as a habit

platform (n) [5plAtfC:m] a place or opportunity for public display, discussion or performancei

 

Specialized Terms

hinterland (n) 内地；偏远地区 a part of the country that is far away from big city areas

Van Cliburn 范·克里波恩（美国钢琴家，首届莫斯科国际柴可夫斯基钢琴大赛首奖得主）(1934—) the American pianist who won the International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow in 1958

谦逊的中国音乐大师培育钢琴奇才

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全心投入的老师

65岁的但昭义精力旺盛，成长于离重庆市不远的中国西部内地。他热爱音乐的医生父亲买了一架钢琴。但昭义说：“我们有固定练习时间。我会偷偷地将时钟拨快，这样就可以少练习一点。”说起这段往事，但昭义开怀大笑。   

但昭义有点顽皮而且习惯轻声发笑，在一对一教导学生时感到最自在不拘。目前他共有13名学生，年龄从10～18岁不等。他每星期至少替一名学生上两堂课。   

李云迪的母亲张小鲁说：“他上课时对学生要求非常严格，课余时又将学生当自己孩子看待。”现年23岁的李云迪曾于2000年赢得国际萧邦钢琴大赛首奖。   

但昭义相信为了在专业上进步，比赛是必要的。他解释说：“在市场上，你唯有赢得国际奖项及出名，观众才会付钱来看你演出。”此外，“比赛是一个舞台，可让有天赋的演奏家施展本领。”

 

终生为父   

但昭义的大部分学生一生中大多时间由他指导，他教学生如何广泛地掌握纯熟技巧及拥有无限活力与轻松自在风格。但昭义说：“大多数的学生才刚学琴就是我教的。他们跟我很久了，我也替他们奠定了很好的基础。”   

以前的学生非常喜欢但昭义，经常回来找他。旅居欧洲的钢琴家陈萨曾是但昭义的学生，在准备参加去年5月于美国德州举行的范·克里波恩国际钢琴大赛时，也曾回来请求但昭义指导。   

25岁的陈萨说：“就像我们中国人说的，一日为师，终生为父。他是我‘永远的’老师。”