Steven Z's Senior Project Blog

Project Title: There Will Come Soft Notes
BASIS Advisor: Joel Rangel
Internship Location:
Onsite Mentor:



Project Abstract

The ultimate goal of being a musician is to perform. There is often a disconnect between the practice room and the stage, which causes the doleful, “well, I don’t know what just happened out there--it’s always worked in the practice room.” The easiest, and arguably only, way to bridge practice and performance is to practice performing. As I prepare to major in music, I hope to gain performance experience and observe audience behavior by bringing music to the lobbies or waiting areas at Banner Health and Acoya Senior Living. I will then perform for the string students at BASIS Mesa, a short recital of a few pieces that I used in my Senior Project. From this experience, I hope to become a better musician for various audiences and occasions.

    My Posts:

  • The Final Recital 5/2

    I'm writing about my experience planning this recital and making it a reality two days ago, on 4/30. For my final recital, I wanted to perform a few of the pieces that I learned and practiced throughout the senior project. I chose to play Bach's Ave Maria, Saint Saens' The Swan, Massenet's Elegie, and Kreisler's... Read More

  • Transitioning to Viola 4/23

    At this point in the college decision process, while my plans are still unclear, I realized that I will most likely study viola full-time and hopefully pursue a career on the viola. Ironically, I still can't properly read sheet music written in alto clef (the viola clef), and I stand no chance if I needed... Read More

  • Highs and Lows 4/22

    With the project nearing a conclusion, I wanted to write about some of the reactions I got while playing. Imagine you're walking through the doors of a hospital, maybe you're in a rush to be on time, or maybe you're feeling apprehensive, grumpy, depressed, or confused. What would you think if you heard a kid... Read More

  • Playing for Two 4/14

    Two weeks ago at Banner Baywood, I went inside a nursing unit to play for two inhabitants. I asked my volunteer coordinator beforehand and also asked the nurses on the floor for their permission. They kindly worked with me to find patients who would like to hear music. The two were sitting upright on their... Read More

  • Collaborating with a Fellow Volunteer 4/7

    Back in the first week of volunteering at Banner Gateway, I met another musician who comes to volunteer right after me. Don is an elderly man with a thick white beard and mustache, and he plays the piano. He carries a leather briefcase in which he stores sheet music that he gathered throughout the years.... Read More

  • Continuing to Find New Music 3/31

    After the first two weeks or so, I've developed a nice base of repertoire that I can always pull out at a moment's notice. These consisted of classic Suzuki beginner's pieces, delicious short encores, and some of the more calming pieces from my college audition repertoire. I wanted to find more variety, and be able... Read More

  • Finding New Pieces 3/29

    I started out with the pieces I had prepared for my college auditions: Walton Concerto Mvt. 1, Brahms F minor Sonata Mvt. 1, and Bach Suite No. 2 Prelude and Gigue for viola; Sibelius Concerto Mvt. 1, Paganini Caprice 16 (which I never played during my senior project), Sarasate Zigeunerweisen, Mozart Concerto No. 4 Mvt.... Read More

  • Programmers Only Listen to Classical Music? 3/24

    On March 13, I started my first day of playing at Banner Gateway. For some reason, out of all the times I could've chosen, I opted to go there on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. Back then, I thought it would help me get up early and make the most of my day. But... Read More

  • First Day of Playing 3/24

    Getting back from my college/conservatory auditions in early March, I immediately got started with my volunteering commitment. Even so, I was already three weeks behind my peers. My work began on March 11. My first day was at Inspira Gateway, a retirement community that only recently opened. People curiously looked up from their lunch. The... Read More

  • Planning Process: Banner Gateway and Inspira Gateway 3/23

    My name is Steven Zhang. I decided to make my senior project about performing music for audiences at various locations. I will play at three different locations, five hours per week at each location, for a total of 15 hours per week for 10 weeks. The events I'll describe in this blog took place weeks... Read More