{"id":53300,"date":"2021-02-23T16:12:07","date_gmt":"2021-02-23T21:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/peabody.jhu.edu\/?page_id=53300&preview_id=53300"},"modified":"2025-02-28T15:15:40","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T20:15:40","slug":"maintaining-inspiration-junior-bach-during-a-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/peabody.jhu.edu\/life-at-peabody\/career-services\/student-alumni-stories\/creative-wire\/maintaining-inspiration-junior-bach-during-a-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Feb. 23, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Maintaining Inspiration: Junior Bach During a Pandemic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Feb. 23, 2021 | by Arindam Jurakhan
Edited by Carolyn Dzul<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As a composer, I have escaped many of the ways COVID-19 has impacted the world of music.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>While t<\/span><\/span>he ability to lock oneself in their room without distraction could\u00a0<\/span><\/span>be<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a blessing for composers<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span>ack of collaboration<\/span><\/span>\u00a0has taken a toll<\/span><\/span>\u00a0on all artists<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>However, this void was filled<\/span><\/span>\u00a0by<\/span><\/span>\u00a0being a part of<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Peabody\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Conservatory\u2019s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Junior Bach Program<\/span><\/span><\/a>, where Peabody composers mentor<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>middle<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>school<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>students<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>on<\/span><\/span>\u00a0writ<\/span><\/span>ing<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a piece\u00a0<\/span><\/span>so they can\u00a0<\/span><\/span>hear it performed.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Founded in 2006 by then-undergraduate composer\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Kevin Clark<\/span><\/span><\/a>, this program provides invaluable teaching experience<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0for composers a<\/span><\/span>nd<\/span><\/span>\u00a0meaningful creative opportunit<\/span><\/span>ies<\/span><\/span>\u00a0for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>local\u00a0<\/span><\/span>students.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Currently run by\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Dr. Judah Adashi<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 faculty in the composition, theory, and professional studies departments \u2013<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>the program was adapted into a virtual context due to the COVID-19 pandemi<\/span><\/span>c.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>To teach effectively over Zoom, teachers had to figure out specialized methods that worked for their students.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>My student<\/span><\/span>, Angel,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0didn\u2019t know music theory, so we did everything through sound on\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Ableton<\/span><\/span><\/a>, whereas\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Daniel Collins<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0(MM Composition)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0used\u00a0<\/span><\/span>flat.io<\/span><\/span><\/a> for his student with basic knowledge of theory. Dr. Adashi also established an incredible connection with the <\/span><\/span>Bergamot Quartet<\/span><\/span><\/a>, which provided an opportunity for students\u2019 works to be performed by a premier ensemble in January 2021. As a result, these <\/span><\/span>students<\/span><\/span>, from either the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women or St. Ignatius Loyola Academy, were able to freely imagine without technical restriction<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>. I can confidently say that helping these<\/span><\/span> students <\/span><\/span>actualize their music was a wonderful experience for all involved.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bergamot Quartet, comprised of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Peabody alumni\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Ledah Finck, Ir<\/span><\/span>\u00e8<\/span><\/span>ne Han, Amy Tan, and Sarah Thomas,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>commented that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u201cthe young composers of the Junior Bach program were so inspiring to work with, and they wrote music that was a great joy for us to learn and perform. They brought both curiosity and creativity to the table, which is the perfect combination.\u201d I was especially surprised by the variety of styles present in a 30-minute concert and the dedication of the ensemble to realize each piece in a unique way for the composers.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was also\u00a0<\/span><\/span>exciting\u00a0<\/span><\/span>to see my fellow Junior Bach teachers adapt their pedagogical practice for these students.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Ashna Pathan<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0(BM in New Media & Recording Arts)<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>said, \u201cThe most rewarding part about Junior Bach is getting to help such young, gifted composers develop as artists. Many of them don\u2019t read music, so we get to be their scribe, helping them put their creations that previously existed only in their minds on paper.\u201d Being a part of this experience as a teacher highlights how magical composition really is.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Ashna\u2019s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0experience shows how each teacher-student relationship was highly individualized:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cKenny had so many genius ideas but was only limited by the fact that he couldn\u2019t read music himself so needed a scribe to put his ideas on paper. To communicate his ideas to me, he would hum melodies, describe how he wanted things to sound, or draw a picture. Sometimes, if I was unsure of what he wanted I would give him choices, such as \u201cthis, this, or neither?\u201d Kenny is a huge K-pop fan, so we will often look at his favorite songs and discuss what he likes about them. Usually, I\u2019ll try to find a song or piece in a different genre that does all of the things he likes to build his internal repertoire of sounds. So far, I\u2019ve shown him some electronic and classical music, and this semester I plan to show him some jazz and experimental music.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

– ASHNA PATHAN<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n

This intensive process require<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the teachers to once again\u00a0<\/span><\/span>approach music from a state of childlike wonder.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0T<\/span><\/span>he lessons varied based on what compositional process worked best for them; however, all were focused on finding ideas that the students thought \u201csounded good.\u201d In a time where we are stranded from one another, it was a necessary reminder that art does not need to be complicated or \u201cworthy\u201d of anything \u2013 <\/span><\/span>as artists,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>all we must do is trust our intuition when creating. I<\/span><\/span>t<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>i<\/span><\/span>s a privilege to work with these young composers because\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it\u00a0<\/span><\/span>has\u00a0<\/span><\/span>show<\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span>\u00a0me how much we can still learn from each other through creation despite age, isolation, economic instability, and more.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, th<\/span><\/span>e Junior Bach<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>performance evoked the feelings of when I first hear<\/span><\/span>d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a piece of mine performed live. Seeing these<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>student<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>create such unique works<\/span><\/span>, even<\/span><\/span>\u00a0in such trying times<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>gave me hope for how we can all engage with art to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>endure and process hardship.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I helped<\/span><\/span>\u00a0my student<\/span><\/span>\u00a0write her\u00a0<\/span><\/span>own lyrics and it ended up becoming a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>hectic<\/span><\/span>\u00a0story about aliens that, when analyzed, is a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>harsh\u00a0<\/span><\/span>critique of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>government and what\u00a0<\/span><\/span>has occurred in this country\u00a0<\/span><\/span>over<\/span><\/span>\u00a0the past year. Being let into the creative process of this young, brilliant\u00a0<\/span><\/span>composer<\/span><\/span>\u00a0was truly beautiful and humbling<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>It\u00a0<\/span><\/span>contin<\/span><\/span>u<\/span><\/span>es to<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>amaze me that art<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>can<\/span><\/span>\u00a0find avenues to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>prevail and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>inspire in such horrific times<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>As creators, we all must remember the \u201cwonder\u201d in what we do\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u2013<\/span><\/span>\u00a0through this experience,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I now approach writing with openness and freedom\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that\u00a0<\/span><\/span>I have not felt since I was their age<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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