How to judge

 Why we think he is not qualified to conduct this orchestra? Of course,the age is the basis of judging in many areas whether a person has the qualification particularly in the world of classic music because classic musicians need to be trained very strict and learn many knowledge of the music. 

   When Gustavo Dudamel took over the orchestra in 1999, he is only 18. Most of people have not enter the university at 18 but he has owned his orchestra. Many people includes me have doubt whether he can run the orchestra well. The fact is he makes this orchestra to be one of the most popular symphony orchestra in the world. In 2004 he got the first prize at the Mahler conductor competition. In these years he led his orchestra performed in many places in the world. The orchestra has got a very good reputation and he was also appointed of the music director of Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in 2009. 

    I think we can not judge a person only by his age just like we can not judge a book by its cover, the professional standard is the most important basis. This is what I realized.      

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL MUSICIAN

  In my opinion, the most important factor to be a successful musician is being diligent. There is a famous Chinese proverb: diligence is the means by which one makes up for one`s dullness. If you do not complain your lack of talent, just practice and think about the music, you will improve.

    Second is the talent. If you are very hardworking but you do not have enough talent, you only can reach the average standard. I think, talent is given by the God. I have saw many talented people called “genius”. They only need to spend one quarter time of ours but they can reach the same standard.

     The last thing is lucky. For example, somebody was a very good musician, he played perfect -- but if he was living in the China during the 1970s, he would never be a successful musician because it is a wrong era. 

WHY I OPTED FOR AN OVERSEAS EDUCATION

   The first reason why I chose the overseas education is I can feel and learn the different culture in Singapore. Singapore has a multi-cultural community. Here I can eat many kinds of food, know friends from many countries and work with different classmates. I think it is good for a musician to know many different kinds of culture.

   Second reason is the YST conservatory provides very attractive scholarship. If you can go to university for free, why not?

    The last thing is YST has the advanced equipment for students. It has a good library, many high-grade practice rooms and advanced classrooms. The equipment of YST is really much better than Chinese conservatories. 

What does music make me feel?

     This is the man who I admire -- Jean-Paul CELEA.
  
     He plays contrabass and was the professor of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon. Since 1996, he is the professor of Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris.

    I met him twice, both were in the masterclass in Shanghai. He is the best player among the contrabass players whom I have listened. His timbre is the best in my opinion -- very clean. His playing is very musical and his skill is also very awesome! He is worth being called "master".
    
    He was very conscientious. Before he started to work, he would warm up for half an hour. When he taught you, he would not waste any word--not too much laugh or rubbish. He only talked upon the music.
  
   Later I knew he is also great at the Jazz music. The technique of contrabass is very different between classical music and jazz music. So it is very difficult to be good at both of them. I was very regretful that I had not asked him to play a jazz clap. Oh I should know it! How can a man wear a high-heeled shoes only play classic music? Haha...

   It seems like that is all the memory he left. I also can not find any clip of him in Youtube. I do not have any his album. But he is the No.1 bass player in my opinion. I like him.

Here is his homepage:Jean-Paul CELEA