Let’s Talk!

Meet pianist Sophie Li!.

Sophie is only 12 years old, but she already has her AMusA in piano. She has played as a soloist In the Chinese Festival and at the Sydney Opera House. This month she is making her orchestral debut playing the Haydn Piano Concerto in D Major with the orchestra.

How does someone so young achieve so much? We talked to Sophie to find out…

When did you begin learning piano?
I began when I was just 3 years old.

Why did you choose the piano as your instrument?
To tell the truth, I didn’t really get a choice since basically my whole family plays it, but I have come to love it. I continue learning it because it is like eating to me and also I find that music is a universal language.

Do you play any other instruments?
I also play the saxophone.

Do you practise every day?
Yes!

How long for?
For 1 – 3 hours.

Do you have time for other hobbies?
Yes I do. Some of my hobbies are swimming, reading and hanging out with friends.

Do you have a favourite composer?
I enjoy different kinds of music so I don’t really have one favourite, but a few of the ones I like better are Debussy and Carl Vine. Last year I played Carl Vine’s 5 Bagatelles and I really liked them, so I asked my teacher, Paul to give me some more of his music. This year I’m going to play some of his Anne Landa Preludes. He is like the 21st century Music Superman. His music is not only beautiful but it’s magical. I really want to meet him face to face some day and ask him how he writes his music.

Do you have a favourite performer?
Yes and he is called Maksim Mrvica.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced learning piano?
The biggest challenge I have faced is combining my time with school word, music and fun.

What’s the best experience you’ve had as a performer?
My best experience was when I was 7. I performed in the NSW Music Teacher Training Course. I performed 15 pieces from the Baroque period. I played by memory and at the end of my performance everybody was very shocked and made me and my piano teacher, Paul Rickard-Ford, very happy.

If you couldn’t play piano, what would you play?
I would play the harp. When I was 3 I saw and heard a harp for the first time at my mother’s friend’s house in Boston, America. She played the harp and it was love at first sight. I fell in love with the gracefulness of the sound. At night I even sneaked out of my room and tried to play it. My mum’s friend came out of her room and started panicking when she saw a 3 year old try to lean the harp on her shoulder!

What are your goals for the future? Do you think you will have a career in music?
I’m still young and deciding what to do. It might be music or something else.

You’ve already been incredibly successful at piano. Do you have any advice for other kids who are learning to play?
Practise every day, use your heart to make music alive and remember that the brain is the king and the fingers are the servants!