Alex Z：14 Years of Musical Growth
Having received offers from four top music schools in the US; impressing an admissions officer with a jazz piece at the Berklee College of Music interview; deciding to relearn the basics from the beginning after a piano exam... Today’s offer story will take a “behind the scenes” look at the story of Alex Z, who – despite making it appear effortless – has been on a 14-year journey in music.
Alex Z (Y13)
Berklee College of Music - Electronic Production and Design
Los Angeles College of Music - Music Production
Manhattan School of Music - Classical Piano
Mannes School of Music - Piano
The Secret to Staying Ahead in Music: Mastering the Basics
Since the age of 4, Alex has immersed himself in the melodies of the piano for a solid 14 years, never missing a single week of lessons. As he progressed, fewer and fewer of his peers persisted with their studies year after year. They might have completed their exams or succumbed to academic pressures, yet these people who gave up only fueled Alex to be more determined to keep going.
For many, passing exams signals the end of their musical journey, but for Alex, it was just the beginning. After obtaining the highest certification, he critically reflected upon his skills and decided to start anew with the basics! Explaining this decision, Alex said, "Although I performed well in exams, I realised there was room for improvement for every note. Without refining each note, I couldn't tackle more challenging pieces, so I felt it was necessary to restart my practice."
In addition to the predictable hard work and practice Alex emphasized the significance of learning from excellent teachers and implementing their feedback to prepare adequately before lessons. He vividly illustrates this, "If you haven't practiced well before the lesson, you're letting your teacher spend valuable class time with you ‘washing dishes’ and wasting the time to teach you how to ‘cook’.” Conversely, if the student’s well-prepared, the teacher can provide targeted guidance and feedback, naturally leading to deeper knowledge.
Hard work pays off, especially for those with talent and dedication. Alex has frequently won accolades in various competitions: Third prize in the Romantic Period group in the Shanghai Piano Open Competition 2022 Final; “First prize in the Suzhou Teenager Music Competition 2021 Teens Group Final for piano; Third Prize in the Steinway Piano Competition 2022 Final for the Free Selection of Repertoire Group; and countless others. However, Alex confesses, "Although every competition is rewarding, I don't participate to pursue rankings or prizes. I aim to showcase my musical achievements and dedicated practice to more people. These performances also help me progress towards becoming a professional performer."
Grow in Dulwich
While observing his peers returning to purely academic studies, Alex's unwavering passion for the piano stands out. One might assume he had long decided to pursue a musical path, but the reality is different. He admits that music was merely a hobby before coming to DHSZ. "At that time, I felt the competition in music was fierce, and I might not be able to compete with others. However, after experiencing various competitions and performances in high school, receiving recognition from different teachers, I gradually realised that I was one who could outperform others. Combined with my genuine love for music, I began to believe that music was not only my hobby but could also become my profession."
Treasure Hunters
At DHSZ, Alex encountered many excellent mentors who helped him solidify his passion into a professional goal.
He learned different things from different music teachers, listening to their diverse advice, and fostering his own development. "Each teacher has different feedback and insights, especially on piano playing. They provided me with different inspirations, which I took on and integrated," recalls Alex. When he first entered DHSZ, the music teacher was particularly strict with his demands. When he asked why the teacher's expectations for him were always higher than those of other students, the teacher replied, "Because you are especially gifted at piano. You can't rely solely on your past achievements, wasting your talent by resting on your laurels. I push you so you can continue to make progress." This response struck a chord with Alex.
Additionally, Alex is grateful to his economics teacher, Ms Jessica Law, who encouraged and propelled him towards the path of music. As Ms Law also appreciated classical music, whenever she passed through the school hall and heard Alex playing the piano, she would stop and admire his performances. "One day, Ms Law told me, 'Alex, why don't you study music? You're completely different playing the piano compared to how you are in economics class!'"
Music is Everywhere, with Boundless Stages
Reflecting on his four years of high school, besides the encouragement and support from teachers, the school's curriculum and activities continuously enriched Alex's experiences in the field of music. In Year 11, he encountered various instruments from around the world in class, listening to and learning their sounds, providing a continuous source of inspiration for his compositions. Dulwich's music theory courses helped him consolidate the fundamentals of music, such as understanding the name of the triplet in the first movement of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata". Alex also passed the more challenging ABRSM Performance Level exam, which includes performances, a thesis, sight-reading, and a musical knowledge portion. The musical knowledge section examines knowledge related to musical scores, directly applying the theoretical knowledge Alex solidified at DHSZ.
Participating in school musicals as a musician and arranger left Alex with unforgettable stage experiences. He took part in the Chinese drama "Spirited Away" and the annual musical "Little Shop of Horrors." Alex tells us that unlike solo performances, musical theater performances require more collaboration. For example, during the piano performance in "Little Shop of Horrors," he needed to adapt to what was happening on the spot. "I need to constantly pay attention to the actors and actresses’ expressions, lines, and lyrics, judge the rhythm of the performance, and perfectly coordinate with them, which is not easy."
He also participated in the school's 2023 Young Musician of the Year competition, where his performance of "Spring River Boat Shadows" vividly represented the beauty of admiring ink paintings of tranquil lake landscapes, ultimately winning the competition. "This piece made me feel the beauty of Dongting Lake and the tranquility of nature, and it allowed me to find a way to express my emotions through music. I hope to share my musical emotions with everyone through interpretation and convey my love for life and the pursuit of wonderful things."
A Love for All Types of Experiences
During his high school years, besides receiving support in his subjects, Alex found that his soft skills were also being developed and improved. He actively participated in various co-curricular activities (CCAs) as an opportunity to learn leadership skills. Photography is also one of Alex's interests, so he joined the Photography CCA. In both large and small school events and competitions, he could be seen capturing and documenting beautiful moments. Outside of school he has also participated and won awards in many humanities, social sciences, and garden promotion photography competitions such as JEA Media.
Alex believes that photography and music complement each other. He loves them both because of his passion for life. "When I admire the scenery, the landscapes I see often become the inspiration for my music compositions, or when the weather is good, I feel happier when practicing the piano, and I make better progress."
One Minute on the Stage Needs Ten Years Practice off Stage
Having decided on pursuing a music major in Year 12, Alex focused on preparing for university applications with apparent ease despite his tight schedule. While preparing his portfolio, he won Young Musician of the Year, passed the ABRSM performance exam, joined a four-day composition camp, and collaborated with teammates to produce a complete pop song. However, for Alex, taking time to participate in performances or competitions during critical moments was also part of his improvement process. These preparatory experiences helped him develop the mental and technical skills needed to achieve good results in the future.
At the end of his interview at the Berklee College of Music, Alex felt confident of his success. This confidence stemmed from his performance of a piece by a relatively unknown but outstanding jazz composer during the free performance segment, prompting the admission officer to exclaim, "You are impressive!" Being able to effortlessly secure a ticket to one of the world's top music institutions, Alex told us that it was his technicality and musicality that set him apart, which naturally resulted from years of diligent practice.
Throughout the entire college admissions process, Alex was particularly grateful for the guidance provided by his counsellor, Ms Rain Xie. From the beginning, Ms Xie assisted him in finding the right direction, selecting suitable schools to apply to, and providing comfort and support when he felt anxious. He sought one-on-one discussions with Ms Xie almost every free period. "Ms Xie patiently helped me revise my essays word by word, especially the ones submitted to the Berklee College of Music, which she and my music teacher Mr Isaiah Koh polished together with me."
Alex's Advice for Lower School Students
Developing Skills: Actively participating in school CCAs is an important way to cultivate leadership and teamwork skills. Involvement in leadership positions will help you better understand your leadership potential. By Y12 or Y13, if you feel ready, consider starting a CCA of your own, which will be an excellent opportunity to practice these skills in real-life situations. And if you feel you're not ready yet, look for more opportunities to continue learning and improving.
Advancing in Music: If you aspire to pursue a career in music, then studying and practicing extensively are essential. Learning music requires consistent effort and relentless pursuit. Just like in other subjects, the knowledge gained in the classroom is far from enough to make you an excellent musician; you must invest a lot of time and energy after class to practice and improve. Finding mentors, participating in performances, and networking with other music enthusiasts are all effective ways to enhance your musical abilities.
