Aplez Blog No Goodbyes Program - Ti Wen, A virtuoso who makes the violin sing.

Let's be real. No matter what kind of music you're into, who hasn't felt a tug to one's heartstrings when you hear the haunting, soothing and melodic sound of a violin being played? It's an emotional trigger if there ever was one! And, the violin is infinitely more versatile than you might think. Yes, we commonly associate the violin with the Gods of classical music such as Beethoven, Bach and Paganini. But, did you realize that this delicate yet powerful instrument has also played a part in the music of contemporary artists like The Dave Matthews Band and Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra? If you've been thinking about learning the violin but weren't sure how to get started, the welcoming NO GOODBYES PROGRAM just might have the answers that you've been seeking. The No Goodbyes Program's team of diverse and talented instructors includes a veritable mistress of the violin, Ms. TI WEN. Born and raised in TAIWAN and now a proud New Yorker, Ti Wen started learning the violin when she was just four years of age.  Ms. Wen has over twenty-two years of experience playing, not only the violin but the viola, as well. Yes, you could certainly say that this caring teacher has QUITE a lot of experience going for her. There has never been a better time to explore seeing if learning the violin is the right move for you since the No Goodbyes Program is currently offering at selected locations only, a COMPLIMENTARY INTRO to VIOLIN COURSE. And the class is taught by none other than the aforementioned Ti Wen. Her class is limited to 3-5 persons per session and the age requirement is 5 to 18 years. If you already own a violin, that's great! However, if not, the No Goodbyes Program can provide a full-size violin for in-lesson use. How cool is that?  Details are now being set, so log onto the program's website to obtain up-to-the-minute information at www.nogoodbyesprogram.com.As we mentioned previously, our instructor in the spotlight grew up in Taiwan where there is a unique and very demanding system in place for classical music training. Going from elementary school all the way through university, there are specialized music departments and ALL students are required to learn at least two instruments. My friends, that is ONLY the beginning. In addition, students, such as Ti Wen had to take classes like ear training and music theory, even singing. This makes for one heck of a well-rounded musical education. Aplez.com asked Ti to look back on those formative years and she had some interesting and surprising things to say. "Initially, I was not particularly interested in learning the violin. You know how kids are. I saw my cousin learning it and wanted to give it a try." A diligent student, Ti was a quick learner, however; "I began to feel a lot of pressure in junior high school, due to the rigors of the educational system and honestly, I didn't have much emotional connection to the instrument. It wasn't until a few years later, at university, when I began using the violin and viola to perform my own compositions, that I rediscovered the beauty of these instruments. I then realized that there are endless possibilities for playing string instruments. Practicing was no longer dull and tedious; instead, it became an exploration of creating unique sounds in different ways."Once she began to settle in, it didn't take long for the newcomer to fall in love with everything that New York City has to offer, especially when it comes to the vibrant music scene.  "I come from a classical music background but have expanded my horizons into other genres such as electronic music," explained Ti. " Here, in the Big Apple, there are endless possibilities in terms of musical creation and everyday living, not to mention the multi-ethnic food culture. Musicians from all over the world gather in this melting pot, making NYC a very suitable place for anyone who wants to learn or create art. "