EXCLUSIVE Interview with Dr. Sheung-Ping Lai

At the International Youth Composers Society, we bring you the best of the best, and today I'm excited to present to you an interview with Dr. Sheung-Ping Lai.

1. Introduce yourself! Who are you, what do you do, and why composition?

I am Dr. Sheung-Ping Lai. I am a composer and music educator. I teach music theory and composition. I have always liked to write. When I was a teenager, I used to write diaries, essays, poetry, and even plays. Then, I decided to be a composer. I studied music composition in college.

2. At the beginning of your “musical journey” (when you were young), did you necessarily start with composition/as a composer? If not, when did you make that transition?

I took piano lessons when I was young but did not enjoy practicing the piano. I prefer to create something to play instead. When I had the opportunity to learn composition in college, I went for it.

3. What was the largest obstacle in composing when you were young? How did you attempt (and/or succeed) to overcome it?

Composing is frustrating for beginners, who have lots of ideas but not enough skills to express them. I thought about giving up. I asked my teacher if I was good enough to be a composer. My teacher said it was too early to tell and I should keep writing to find out. I have been writing since.

4. Many people see composing as something only for prodigies. How would you address this misconception and others you may have heard in the past?

There are not that many prodigies and most musicians are not prodigies. Composition can be learned. Musicians passionate about composing and receiving proper training from good teachers can learn to compose.

5. For musicians who feel intimidated by the idea of composing, what advice would you give them?

Everyone has the right to self-expression. Composing is expressing yourself through music. There is nothing to be afraid of. If you desire to compose and learn the skills, you can do it.

6. How important is it to experiment and make mistakes when learning to compose?

Experimenting and making mistakes are necessary parts of learning. Without experimentation, nothing will happen. Sometimes, it takes many failure attempts to achieve success.

7. How do you find inspiration when you’re experiencing a creative block?

Take a walk, listen to the sounds of nature, listen to some music, read, visit a museum, or do something else to refresh your mind.

8. How do you see the role of composing in the larger context of music education and performance?

Composing helps musicians better understand the ideas and structures behind music compositions. It allows musicians to express themselves better through musical performance. For students, it develops musicianship skills and enhances musical creativity. For music educators, composing skills enable them to compose and arrange music for their students to perform.

9. How has composing enriched your overall musical experience? How do you think others would be able to do the same?

Composing is an important part of my life, and I enjoy teaching music composition as much as composition. Other composers would have other kinds of musical experience. They might engage in different professional activities. We don’t have to be the same. As long as the composer is happy, that’s important.

10. Can you share some simple steps that a young musician can start with to get into composing? How might young musicians be able to use their existing musical skills to help them start composing?

Start with a melody. Use the melody to tell a story. Explore the possibilities of manipulating musical elements to tell the story.

11. Do you know of any resources that young musicians can get access to that would help them “kickstart” their composing journey?

Software such as e-Orch would help. [actually developed by Dr. Chi-Hin Leung, with who IYCSY conducted a video interview with here!]

12. If you had to leave us with one single piece of advice in composing, what would it be and why?

Follow your heart. You need to write music that truly represents you.

Dr. Sheung-Ping Lai received her D. M. A. in Composition from The Ohio State University, her M. M. in Composition from Cleveland Institute of Music, and her M. M. in Music Education (Jazz Pedagogy focus) from Capital University.

As a composer, her music covers various genres and styles, including Western and Chinese instrumental music, vocal music, electronic music, and theatrical music, incorporating Classical, Jazz, and Chinese musical elements, presenting a unique synthesis of the East and the West. As a music educator, Dr. Lai has substantial college teaching experience in the U. S. and Asia. She was an Assistant Professor at the Education University of Hong Kong, where she taught music composition, music theory, composition pedagogy, contemporary music, and jazz study. Since the COVID pandemic, she has been giving online lessons to students across the globe.

Dr. Lai's compositions and research outputs on music theory and contemporary music are interrelated and tied to culture and education. They have been published and presented at international festivals and conferences. Dr. Lai believes that cross-cultural music-making and education can enlighten souls, break cultural barriers, bring people closer together, and achieve global harmony. Let's work together to build a better future for mankind!