On Jan. 27 Lucy Tan, lecturer and director of Keyboard Studies and Applied Piano presented at the faculty piano recital in White Concert Hall. Tan skillfully performed pieces by Enrique Granados, Beethoven, Claude Debussy and Frédéric Chopin.

The process of creating a program for a recital could take years or multiple months. A program is an assorted collection of repertoire or pieces of music. Tan started creating her program last summer and committed hours of practicing the pieces.

Tan went back and forth with choosing pieces and would practice them to see how they felt in her hands. She even asked her husband what he may want to hear if he was in the audience.

“I started thinking about what program I wanted to play as early as last summer and I was just thinking about all the pieces I had learned before and all the pieces I had learned more recently,” Tan said.

While figuring out her program, she wanted to ensure the pieces of music she chooses would balance each other out. While also keeping a good balance of pacing with the music and having a modern feel.

“I’ve decided to program my music between just a few composers, Chopin to start Chopin to finish and the in between I had Beethoven and Debussy,” Tan said.

Before performing Tan has a couple of things she does to get ready for a show. She tries to not play the piano for an hour or two before the show, so that she does not get tired before performing. Also, before playing she drinks less water and eats a banana 45 minutes before. Tan meditates for a clearer mind and keeps her hands warm, so they do not become stiff while playing.

According to Tan, being a hard worker, having perseverance, problem solving and organization skills are especially important as a musician and other parts of your life. These skills will help you be able to plan for your goals that you set for yourself. While also being able to identify how you can make a piece better when practicing.

“I think what makes me a strong musician is that I have a deep affinity for being expressive for showing the lyrical side of music, or really feeling with the music deeply and being able to show the story and the narrative in the music through the way I play”, Tan said.

Tan believes bringing music to life is a particularly important part of presenting music to others. The Washburn department of music, invites students and staff to attend their next faculty recital.

Edited by: Simran Shrestha and Rakesh Swarnakar