1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:26,560 Welcome back to another episode of the PianoPod. I am your host, Yukimi-san. 2 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:33,400 For this episode, I invited Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim, who is described as a force of nature who 3 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:37,480 lives for that special connection with a live audience. 4 00:00:37,480 --> 00:00:42,960 I just finished interviewing her, and this quote is such a perfect description of Ji-Yoon 5 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:49,200 as an artist. I've wanted to interview her since the get-go, and I knew of her even before 6 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:54,360 I started the PianoPod through her YouTube channel, which we will discuss in detail during 7 00:00:54,360 --> 00:01:00,320 the show. Anyway, I got an email from her publicist during the lockdown of 2020 to see 8 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:06,360 if Ji-Yoon can be on the PianoPod, because she just finished writing her book at the 9 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:11,840 time. The book is called Whenever You're Ready. Oh, by the way, this book is really awesome, 10 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:17,420 and I have read it a few times, and I highly recommend it. The book tells you about a real 11 00:01:17,420 --> 00:01:23,760 life as a pianist, and it also gets quite philosophical, like what does success look 12 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:29,320 like to you? What do you want to bring to the world as a pianist? Anyway, finally, after 13 00:01:29,320 --> 00:01:35,320 over two years, I was able to invite her to interview, and I am excited to share this 14 00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:36,840 episode with you today. 15 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:43,000 Now, I wanted to start a podcast show because for the longest time, I felt a huge gap between 16 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:48,160 the classical music world and the general public, and I wanted to start this show to 17 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:54,940 fill the gap. Ji-Yoon seemed to have the similar question or curiosity as mine, and she dedicated 18 00:01:54,940 --> 00:02:01,600 her career not only in her concert performances, but also in audience engagement by creating 19 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:08,360 innovative concert programs, recordings, writing a book, creating a fan base on digital platforms, 20 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:15,100 and more. So today, I want to focus on how we as classical musicians should be in touch 21 00:02:15,100 --> 00:02:20,520 with the rest of the world and connect with our audience in this modern and complicated 22 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:26,440 world in a creative and meaningful way. So before inviting the guest of this episode, 23 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:31,800 I want to welcome everyone who is listening to or watching the PianoPod for the first 24 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:36,760 time. I'm a classical pianist and educator from New York City, passionate about creating 25 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:42,800 a thriving and a meaningful community of the classical music industry through this podcast. 26 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:49,040 Please visit yukimisongsstudio.com to find more about my work. In each episode of the 27 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:54,640 PianoPod, I interview a guest speaker who has been breaking exciting new ground in the 28 00:02:54,640 --> 00:03:00,200 music industry. Before getting started, I want to thank everyone for tuning in today. 29 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:05,800 Please rate the show and review it on Apple Podcasts because every rating or review will 30 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:12,600 help people find my show. So everyone, are we ready for episode 14? All right, here we 31 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:22,480 go, dear friends, please enjoy the show. You are listening to the PianoPod where we talk 32 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:29,320 to the brightest minds in the industry about how they are bringing the piano into the 21st 33 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:35,560 century. I am honored to welcome Ms. Joo Yoon Kim, described as a force of nature, who is 34 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:42,200 an award-winning classical pianist, recording artist, art activist, author, and educator. 35 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:47,600 She has delighted audiences globally with her sensitive artistry, impeccable technique, 36 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:53,360 and engaging and innovative concert experiences. Her dedication to pushing the boundaries of 37 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:58,840 traditional classical music to connect with a new audience has inspired a dedicated and 38 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:06,080 passionate fan base, both at concert venues and on digital platforms. So, Joo Yoon, welcome 39 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:12,080 and thanks for being here. I'm so excited to get to hear your stories today and then 40 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:13,080 learn from you. 41 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:14,080 Thank you for having me. 42 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:21,280 Of course, thank you. And especially on the topic of audience engagement and how you are 43 00:04:21,280 --> 00:04:26,480 creatively engaging your fans. And I think that's one of the hardest topics right now 44 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:32,080 in the industry, in our industry, especially with the rise of social media and digital 45 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:38,400 platforms. But it's not just about our digital footprint or presence. It's more to do with 46 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:44,720 how we as classical musicians can relate to and reach out to the new contemporary audience. 47 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:50,640 Yeah. So, and I consider you as like a front runner or the model in our industry in that 48 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:55,880 way because you've been really dedicating your career and life to audience engagement 49 00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:02,140 in many, many innovative ways. And so, Joo Yoon, I want to start by reading this quote 50 00:05:02,140 --> 00:05:06,840 from your book, Whenever You're Ready. I totally enjoy the book, by the way. And so let me 51 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:12,920 quote, having a mission beyond just fulfilling my own life's need or self-satisfaction was 52 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:19,840 one of the key incentives for me to keep going despite difficulties, end quote. So it is 53 00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:25,220 clear to me and I'm sure to many readers and fans that you're such a messenger. And so 54 00:05:25,220 --> 00:05:32,520 what is your mission statement in 2023 after we've been through this pandemic as a pianist 55 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:36,400 in person? So where are you right now? 56 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:42,560 I'm actually very grateful that you mentioned that our mission changes over time and I think 57 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:48,840 it should. It always we have to be nimble and be able to change with the time. But I 58 00:05:48,840 --> 00:05:55,240 think it didn't change much for me. I would say I'm a classical pianist who strive for 59 00:05:55,240 --> 00:06:00,900 a unique connection. That word is very important to me, whether that is a public speaking or 60 00:06:00,900 --> 00:06:07,840 private conversation or teaching piano recording or or piano performance on stage. I believe 61 00:06:07,840 --> 00:06:13,400 that I can make a difference in the world to spread the beauty of classical music one 62 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,040 person at a time. 63 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:20,280 Wow. Thank you. That's very well said. By the way, I love the background. Are you tuning 64 00:06:20,280 --> 00:06:22,680 in from your home home studio? 65 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:29,320 Yes. This is my place that I practice every single day. And, you know, as you I don't 66 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,880 know, you can see there's nothing but piano that even the couch doesn't even serve as 67 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:41,440 a couch. So for me, it's an empty space that simplify my environment. Just emphasizing 68 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:46,320 the important thing, which is a piano only thing in this space really helps me to focusing 69 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:47,320 on my life. 70 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:52,800 Wow. And with the beautiful paintings and photos in the background, what an inspiring 71 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:58,280 space. Now, what's the secret to finding out your own mission in life? 72 00:06:58,280 --> 00:07:05,800 I think, you know, first, we all have to believe that we all have our own unique reason why 73 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:11,820 we exist in this universe. I think we all have to start from that belief. It may or 74 00:07:11,820 --> 00:07:17,680 may not anything to do with your jobs. So from that belief, I think it's important to 75 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:23,520 know ourselves. What do I like? What what are the things that makes my heart pumping? 76 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:30,160 What is my tendencies, preferences, personalities? What is important to me? What are the things 77 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:38,240 that I do gain energy by doing not draining? What makes me in the status of flow? Feel 78 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:45,040 like I lose time and time doesn't even exist. Then I will turn that into what I enjoy the 79 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:52,080 most into what I can do well, collecting necessary skills and trainings and perspectives that 80 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:59,740 I think we devote ourselves to improve ourselves in anything. We are more invested in that. 81 00:07:59,740 --> 00:08:07,680 Not only we get better, but also we our enjoyment grows. So the next step would be then ask, 82 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:14,160 how can you help one person in this world? Not thousands, but that one person with that 83 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:20,160 very thing that you love and you're trying to be better. And I think that is your mission 84 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:27,400 that finding who you are, then then in connection with others, then to contribute to the world 85 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:29,240 in the way who you are. 86 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:36,200 Wow, thank you. Because I think at one point, you know, you practice so much as a pianist 87 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:42,600 and you get stuck, right? And you feel like what are the all these hours of practice? 88 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:51,520 Where am I going to from where I am? Yeah, I think we have to remember there's a reason 89 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:57,480 why you love playing piano. And I often were so bombarded with environments of a competitiveness 90 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:03,880 of our other things that you forget that and then focusing on other thing. But if you really 91 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:09,800 listen to yourself, the very thing is music, if that very thing is piano, then you can 92 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:15,840 uncover the layering out and then try to be in tune with yourself. 93 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:22,720 I think discovering that secret such an early, you know, stage in your life, especially your 94 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:29,040 career, I think that's a big plus. I mean, it's a lot of journaling and a lot of maybe 95 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,840 for some, it's a lot of therapy to do. 96 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:41,280 Yeah. So also you mentioned in the book that you feel deeply connected with your listeners 97 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:47,000 in the very moment of sharing music. And at one point you realize that you wanted a concert 98 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:53,000 to be a shared experience, not a passive participation in a traditional, you know, you'll come out 99 00:09:53,000 --> 00:10:01,360 and bowed in and go backstage. But when did you start realizing the love of how creatively 100 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,640 you want to engage with your audience? 101 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:10,960 I think when you mentioned and people actually even don't know me, what I do would think 102 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:16,780 that I go through such a crazy thing. But I think at the end, I'm just trying to get 103 00:10:16,780 --> 00:10:23,120 to core of what I do. It may be just talking about the music, but not about in the history 104 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:28,640 and perspective, but actually what it means to me emotionally. And I might say, you know, 105 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:35,160 I feel like I'm swimming in a pond. There's nobody, but I hear this nature. It's peaceful 106 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:40,600 and quiet. And that might set one piece that I'm about to play. I'm not talking about when 107 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:47,840 Schumann born in the 18 something something. And I think what I realized is that I grew 108 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:54,640 up in a very unrealistic setting, which is surrounded by pianist, surrounded by classical 109 00:10:54,640 --> 00:11:00,400 musician. My audience were professors and students who memorize all the Beethoven sonatas 110 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:07,080 by opus number and they know. But then when I went into the real, real actual audience, 111 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:13,000 they don't even care. They don't know anything about it. And then when I play certain pieces 112 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:18,400 and in my head, I was thinking, I made that mistake or make memory mistake there. Oh, 113 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:23,560 I could have done that technically better. That doesn't make any sense to them. More 114 00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:29,320 important that I realized is they want to connect with me. And I often thought about 115 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:36,320 my grandma who has no interest in classical music. She actually really into this classical 116 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:43,720 Korean song that is called trot. If I was thinking, if I were playing a piece of music 117 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:49,000 for grandma, I would not start grandma Beethoven born in 18 something. And then we'll talk 118 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:54,560 about grandma. I play this piece like, oh my gosh, I love it because you know, you know, 119 00:11:54,560 --> 00:12:00,840 that I will really come into a compassionate and kind but loving way that I want to so 120 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:07,160 share this piece of music with my grandma that may not care. But then she also, I believe 121 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:14,600 that want to connect with me. So then in that place of loving and friendly gesture made 122 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:23,080 a huge difference to the real audience. And I, I taste that in the outside of academia. 123 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:27,920 You know, of course, when we prepare for the degree recitals, we go out to the retirement 124 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:32,800 center or some other settings that play. And every time I play some other settings, I feel 125 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:39,160 like audience are different. Like, is this a real or is this that get a good grade in 126 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:45,240 academia is a real, you know, I got really confused because at the end, I have to come 127 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:52,520 out of this unrealistic laboratory setting to real world. But then that transition was 128 00:12:52,520 --> 00:13:02,160 so huge for me in my mind that I have to change the my world. Unfortunately, the world I live 129 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:09,200 in in, you know, peer pianist or musicians or even my teachers would not change. But 130 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:14,720 I have to come down from this pedestal of classical music, but come down to the real 131 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:20,640 people and not from the person who knows, but from the person that enjoyed it so much 132 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:28,160 and can't wait to share in a meaningful way. And then when I tried to that little bit little, 133 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:35,960 then I saw the connection amplify in the degree that I can even measure in any way. And I 134 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:44,760 think at the end, they helped me to be a better pianist, better messenger, and people actually 135 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:51,080 get it. I mean, it's not like I'm not selling something that is not sellable. I am selling 136 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:57,780 the most sellable content, Chopin, Rachmaninoff. They will die. They will love it. But they 137 00:13:57,780 --> 00:14:03,400 just don't know how to get to it. But we know. So I have to find a way to connect it that 138 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:08,520 that's for them. Right. I totally understand the part of they don't know how to get there 139 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:13,880 because I live in a big city in New York City. And I teach students who are not really the 140 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:19,800 musical connoisseur, right? They're just, you know, doing this. Most of them are doing 141 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:25,520 it for hobby, seriously, but hobby and then, but they live so close to Carnegie Hall, for 142 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:29,840 example, but they hardly go there because they don't know what to listen to. They don't 143 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:38,600 know where to start. What's the story behind it? And I think our generation is, you know, 144 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:42,920 sometimes find the classical not sometimes all the time classical music is boring or 145 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:50,160 for that something for grandma's not for me. And but then when I bring my friends who's 146 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:55,640 not musician come to my living room and like, sit and ask them to sit down, like I'm working 147 00:14:55,640 --> 00:15:01,280 on this piece, you know, I want to play for you. And this this means something this heartache, 148 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:04,880 you know, I don't know what was Brahms was thinking, but this I feel and then I play 149 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:11,200 it and they're like, what is this? Like, I never heard anything like that. I mean, they're 150 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:17,480 the one who listen to pop music, you know, everywhere they go. But then they get it immediately. 151 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:23,840 You know, so I believe that just they need a better context. And we need to give that 152 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:30,640 context as a musician. And I think that context is not that like fancy thing. It doesn't have 153 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:37,840 to be. But it's really talking about the core message that we feel as a musician and just 154 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:42,800 talking but then actually practicing the delivery of it so that you don't really get into the 155 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:51,080 boring lecture recital. More really like coming from the empathetic mind to to share. And 156 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:58,320 I think if you do that, people genuinely connect with that music, and then they become a fan 157 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:03,920 of classical music. And once they become a fan, then they can go explore chamber music, 158 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:10,620 other whatever the avant garde of classical music. But first of most, we need to get them 159 00:16:10,620 --> 00:16:17,820 into this corner first. And by doing it is more about really nothing fancy, but openly 160 00:16:17,820 --> 00:16:24,560 talking about why you love this. Now, your way is sounds like a two ways. So it's not 161 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:30,740 just you giving them this performance, but also sounds like you're also receiving something 162 00:16:30,740 --> 00:16:39,400 from them. So by engaging with your audiences, how did they change your life or perspectives? 163 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:46,320 I think every performance is actually changed my life in a small or big way that I cannot 164 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:52,880 measure. But I know every performance tremendously difficult. And after every performance, I 165 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:59,820 gain something. I'm stronger. And, you know, all the students will say, I practiced so 166 00:16:59,820 --> 00:17:04,360 much and I did never make that mistake, but in front of someone so and so I made a this 167 00:17:04,360 --> 00:17:10,480 mistake and that mistake and you know what that imperfection, but yet alive, feeling 168 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:18,640 alive or also all of your senses are like heightened. That's why we do this music life 169 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:25,880 music supposed to be connected through souls to souls. And in that space, and I believe 170 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:33,600 that music completes the circle when we play and share life. And I think that's why every 171 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:41,160 time whenever I perform, it's difficult, but that's that's the function of the music that 172 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:48,280 I give but then I receive and you know, the most beautiful concert or the most I would 173 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:54,900 not say perfect, but the most rewarding concerts. It's not last mistake concerts, but then the 174 00:17:54,900 --> 00:18:02,640 concerts that I felt the most engaged with the music with myself in the music and inevitably 175 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:12,200 with audience receive as well. And I think always I feel that I do something completely 176 00:18:12,200 --> 00:18:20,920 unimaginable in the concert if I'm open to it, if I'm open for the color to be more different 177 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:28,880 or in this way, if I try even harder for certain section to be closed differently, if I experiment 178 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:36,120 on stage, then because I am different on stage, the music response differently. And in that 179 00:18:36,120 --> 00:18:43,760 very moment, I gained something that I can't measure in words. So I remember the very first 180 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:50,180 concert in the graduate in undergraduate study that I play Chopin fantasy or certain parts 181 00:18:50,180 --> 00:18:56,800 of that show, Schumann fantasy story. And that part moved me and I felt like, Oh my 182 00:18:56,800 --> 00:19:06,080 gosh, so beautiful. Wow. You know, like, it's me but not me. That environment, that piano, 183 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:12,800 that people, that hall, everything gave me that another layer of life, another dimension 184 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:19,760 of life, which I become a fuel for my life. So I think that it's complete circle, but 185 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:26,440 people thank me all the time. I really appreciate what you do. I loved your concert that, you 186 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:31,760 know, all of those compliments are wonderful. And I'm, I believe truly appreciate their 187 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:37,200 feedback. But at the end of the day, I gained the most. 188 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:44,160 Wow, that's very beautiful. So you're an award winning pianist, recording artist, author, 189 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:52,760 educator, YouTuber, public speaker, and podcaster. And did I miss anything? I mean, we're going 190 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:57,840 to talk more about your career later. But you know, honestly, I'm curious to know about 191 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:01,720 your YouTube channel, because you know, I have my YouTube channel with this podcast 192 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:08,080 too. So your YouTube channel, like, it's like a lifestyle channel as a concert pianist and 193 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:15,760 very entertaining. And you have over 3000 subscribers. So when did you decide to start 194 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:21,720 engaging with your audience on YouTube? And what motivated you to do this? 195 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:27,840 I think, you know, at some point, I think in 2019 or 18, everybody's talking about 196 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:31,400 you should do the YouTube. I don't know, they still talk about it because I'm already in 197 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:35,280 the YouTube world. I don't hear it anymore. But everybody was talking about you got to 198 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:41,480 start YouTube, YouTube, you know, but in back in my mind, like, maybe but not for me, you 199 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:48,320 know, in front of camera, like, I've, I definitely had that fear of conflicts within me that 200 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:53,280 I didn't want to be in front of a camera. Definitely, there's a challenge that it's 201 00:20:53,280 --> 00:21:00,080 against my personality. Actually, podcast fits me better. It's just like talking about, 202 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:06,040 you know, intimate conversation or writing fits me better. But then camera or something 203 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:14,320 about it was very challenging. But then I was thinking in my head, because it's so challenging, 204 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:21,720 because I felt the conflicts, I had to face it, at least at first. So I tried to think 205 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:27,200 right before pandemic, four or five months, be prior to like quarantine started, I was 206 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:31,720 actually in New York and thought, maybe I record something on my camera, I mean, my 207 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:39,600 phone and see how it feels like. So I did it. And then surprisingly, I found out that 208 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:46,640 I can just talk to the camera like a friend. So then I realized, okay, that's better than 209 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:54,040 I thought, I will try a little bit more. But then pandemic hits. And by the time that pandemic 210 00:21:54,040 --> 00:22:00,440 hit, I already produced maybe 10 or 15 videos that I already have cameras and kind of knew 211 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:08,160 how to edit and everything. And by that point, everybody had to transition into digital world. 212 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:14,480 And by that time, I was already doing it. And so for me, was not transition, but something 213 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:21,400 like, oh, my gosh, I'm already in it. And I was like, a step ahead of others. And then 214 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:27,320 that's where I felt that the power of digital world that I could connect with people that 215 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:33,640 I can never connect in Peru, Malaysia, that people actually unrealistic to come to my 216 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:40,160 concert in person, but then there were real connection that I could make in online world 217 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:47,480 in a meaningful way. So then I started to look at the world differently, like, okay, 218 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:53,300 the pandemic happens and the world is going to end. What am I going to do as a performing 219 00:22:53,300 --> 00:22:59,460 artist or pianist? What does that mean? But then I found hope, you know, digital world, 220 00:22:59,460 --> 00:23:05,720 that I could still connect through music through, you know, in the different platform. And it 221 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:11,720 required me to be resilient a lot more. And I did like weekly live streaming concerts. 222 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:17,880 I think I was the most active during pandemic in the digital world than any, you know, right 223 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:23,360 now I'm a little more struggling because of the time and everything. But I think at the 224 00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:32,280 moment I really felt the power of digital world that I think is at this point for everyone, 225 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:37,520 but especially for musicians existing in a digital world, it's not an option anymore, 226 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:38,520 but must. 227 00:23:38,520 --> 00:23:45,320 I agree with you. Yes, totally. So to my listeners, I want to officially introduce Ji-Yoon Kim 228 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:50,020 by let me just read a little brief bio. So Ji-Yoon began studying the piano when she 229 00:23:50,020 --> 00:23:55,100 was four and her love of music propelled her through her undergraduate studies and piano 230 00:23:55,100 --> 00:24:00,040 performance in her native Korea. After moving to the United States, she received her master 231 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:06,480 of music and doctor of music arts in piano performance with distinction from one of the 232 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:11,320 most prestigious music schools in the United States, the Indiana University Jacob School 233 00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:17,360 of Music. Ji-Yoon has shared her fresh perspective on classical piano performance with audiences 234 00:24:17,360 --> 00:24:22,840 at venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York City, Chamber Music Society in San Francisco, 235 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:28,440 and the Stradivari Society in Chicago. During the pandemic lockdown in 2020, she wrote and 236 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:33,080 published her first book, Whenever You're Ready, offering readers a personal glimpse 237 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:38,680 into her life as a concert pianist. The self-help book in a concert style structure shares 238 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:44,240 wisdom and insights gained from Ji-Yoon's musical experience. Ji-Yoon currently resides 239 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:49,840 in San Diego where she happily practices her piano daily and maintains a studio full of 240 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:57,480 dedicated piano students and surfs each morning at sunrise. Wow, you are also a surfer among 241 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:07,880 many other things. Is there anything you cannot do? Tell me a little bit about being a surfer. 242 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:13,840 I'm curious. Well, I don't think there's not many classical musician surfers. 243 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:21,040 Yeah, I've never heard, yes. Because that's so against of our disciplined 244 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:27,960 mind in many ways because in surfing you have to let go so much. I want to drill so much 245 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:33,280 in surfing. I want to get the trainer and get the perfect form and how to do surf. But 246 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:38,960 then in surfing, you just have to wait for nature to give you waves and you have to ride 247 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:45,600 that wave when nature gives you and respond to it's almost like a jazz. You have to always 248 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:52,120 improvise and you have to play like a child. But in my mind, I want to practice surfing 249 00:25:52,120 --> 00:25:59,280 to be better. So there's a really complex within me, which is helpful for me to be doing 250 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:08,880 so totally different thing with a piano what I do. And in piano, easily I can stay in the 251 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:15,680 day home for days, days without even foot outside. I'll be happily being in indoor. 252 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:22,680 But surfing, you have to be nature. You have to, you know, then you realize that life is 253 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:28,560 about connecting with nature really brings some you to certain place that nothing else 254 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:33,560 can take you. It's like walking nature or hiking and surfing is the same thing when 255 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:39,440 you're in the in the in the middle of ocean in five six six o'clock in the morning, you 256 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:46,520 see pelicans catching fish for the breakfast or dolphins swim by and you kind of feel like, 257 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:53,720 you know, everything is fine. Wow, you're living the life. This episode is presented 258 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:59,480 in collaboration with our good friends at Forte, a free alternative to zoom purpose 259 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:06,120 built for music teachers. I am happy to announce that Forte will always be free for music teachers, 260 00:27:06,120 --> 00:27:11,840 no strings attached. That's right. Forte offers features optimized for classical music 261 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:17,240 lessons, including audio quality far superior to existing platforms and allowing you to 262 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:23,720 hear every nuance of your students instrument. Their colleagues at the Royal College of Music 263 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:29,160 Aspen Music Festival, Curtis Institute and Berklee College of Music have even used Forte 264 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:34,960 in their own programs. Forte's mission is to radically expand access to high quality 265 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:41,240 music education worldwide. Forte always puts teachers and their students first. This means 266 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:46,920 you can use Forte with your own students for free forever. And Forte will soon introduce 267 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:51,960 paid features allowing you to connect with new students around the world. Sign up for 268 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:58,320 free today at ForteLessons.com or click the link in the description. Well, you mentioned 269 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:04,080 that you in the bio, you know, you started your musical journey at Forte. So how do you 270 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:11,480 discover a love for piano? You know, I think I'm very thankful for my parents to put me 271 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:18,240 in this piano Institute when I was four years old, but my parents was not a tiger mom or 272 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:24,760 never really pushed me to do anything. They're actually very busy to their business. And 273 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:29,800 it was my responsibility to go to Institute every single day. And they never really told 274 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:35,640 me to do anything. But I remember my first lesson, which was like five finger pen or 275 00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:39,680 whatever. I don't know. I remember what was it, but I can just assume what that was. It 276 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:47,600 would be C major something. Oh, up and down. But then my teacher play accompaniment part, 277 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:52,640 you know, but at that moment, I feel like I'm a concert pianist already. I was so in 278 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:58,800 love with the rush of sound coming out of this black and white keys. Although I was 279 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:05,520 simply moving my key, you know, up and down, but I felt that the power of the instrument 280 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:12,680 that gave me and I fell in love with it instantly. And I think my parents not pushing me, but 281 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:20,240 I was really drawn into music and I was happy musical kid always want to sing. Hell, I think 282 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:29,280 I knew right there and then I would be musician. You know, sometimes I feel like I chose piano, 283 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:37,440 but I often believe the instrument chooses you. So piano chose me, flute choose someone 284 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:44,120 else trumpet chooses some someone else. So piano suits me and I, you know, I am very 285 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:52,280 biased, but I still believe piano is the queen of the instrument. You know, it can be independent 286 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:59,400 interdependent solo chamber concerto intimate yet powerful. There's no other instrument 287 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:07,000 can imitate orchestra yet most intimate sound that you can create. So, I mean, it's a chameleon 288 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:13,680 of the instrument and I'm so grateful that piano happened to choose me. So what was your 289 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:19,760 training like since then you had intensive training, I'm sure in South Korea, I think 290 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:26,280 you're from Busan. Yeah, yeah. Tell me just briefly about your training. What was it like? 291 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:33,180 Was it really intense? I think any aging country, especially Korea, very competitive, no matter 292 00:30:33,180 --> 00:30:40,000 what you do is competitive. So, but I was actually competitiveness free until I think 293 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:44,960 it's, you know, second grade of middle school, because I was just going to institute doing 294 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:49,520 my thing, like, I didn't I didn't I didn't practice it, but I was not aware of it. But 295 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:55,520 then one day, I think my teacher or my mom told me, you need to go to art high school 296 00:30:55,520 --> 00:31:00,320 to in order to major in piano. So like, okay, but in order to do that, you have to audition 297 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:05,160 our high school, then you have to change teacher to more serious, then you really have to commit 298 00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:12,080 and like, okay, I guess I commit. And then I did not realize what that commitment meant. 299 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:20,280 But that commitment meant that I have to survive in the if I make just simple, like wrong notes 300 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:27,040 in the Chopin etude, you are going to place low ranking in every piano exam in our art 301 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:32,720 high school, everyone plays similar pieces. And then you can direct comparison of so and 302 00:31:32,720 --> 00:31:38,800 so plays faster, so and so plays more cleanly, you know, so like, that was my environment 303 00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:46,080 art high school that was very competitive and perfection is required polished performance. 304 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:52,960 And I guess in that setting, I try really not to be bombarded with that comparison to 305 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:58,000 each other. Because at that time, I was really having a difficult time personal life and 306 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:04,920 my my parents divorcing. So I could not afford myself to be in that mindset, but really survive 307 00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:11,320 on my own personal life, which was blessing in disguise at the end, because I just piano 308 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:19,200 was oasis for me not a place that I have to win. So then afterwards, I went in Korea, 309 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:24,100 National University is also much cheaper. So I only had a two choice, either going to 310 00:32:24,100 --> 00:32:30,040 Busan or going to Seoul University, which is the best school in Korea. But I failed 311 00:32:30,040 --> 00:32:38,620 to getting into Seoul University. And I thought I my career as a pianist is crashed. Definitely 312 00:32:38,620 --> 00:32:43,600 that's a failure, you know, there's no other way around it. I didn't get in. But later, 313 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:48,840 I realized that staying in Busan, which is my hometown, it's not that exciting. I went 314 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:55,240 to university from my home, my own home, you know, nothing exciting. But then I was in 315 00:32:55,240 --> 00:33:00,920 the full scholarship. So I did not pay any money on undergrad studies. And I feel like 316 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:08,600 I gained that perspective, I hibernated, hibernate and prepare myself for the bigger world, extended 317 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:16,160 studies afterwards. And I could pace myself in non competitive environment. Again, if 318 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:22,000 I think I went to Seoul University, then 20 piano major, whoever that were, they're very 319 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:28,240 competitive. Again, I would really maybe burn out, who knows. But you know, as you know, 320 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:34,800 the study in classical music goes for a long time. By the time you go undergraduate, you're 321 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:41,300 already playing piano 16 years already of your life, right? In 20s, you're already been 322 00:33:41,300 --> 00:33:49,380 playing 16 years. But then beyond that is life just starting even education barely started. 323 00:33:49,380 --> 00:33:54,160 But then everybody quit after undergrad even because I'm done with this. You know what 324 00:33:54,160 --> 00:34:01,040 I mean? Yeah, I feel like I gained that energy I actually regenerated during my undergrad, 325 00:34:01,040 --> 00:34:07,240 just to rethink what I love and do I want this and at the same time, I was just taking 326 00:34:07,240 --> 00:34:12,720 my time, which is not it's a luxurious thing that I thought it was not fun. You know, at 327 00:34:12,720 --> 00:34:18,640 that time, I did not like it. Why I'm in Busan still, you know, I've been here for my life, 328 00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:23,200 but I'm still here, you know, but I'm very thankful now. 329 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:28,760 Then that probably I don't know, staying there led you to maybe have the energy to think 330 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:33,600 about coming to the United States, no? You know, I always knew that I have to go outside 331 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:40,480 of Korea. Obviously, classical music is Western music and I need to learn something from outside 332 00:34:40,480 --> 00:34:46,040 of Korea. So I always thought of it, but I in my head, I thought either going to Germany 333 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:51,440 or USA, but I wasn't sure in my undergrad, but I just knew that I would go somewhere 334 00:34:51,440 --> 00:34:58,840 outside. And so before making that decision, I lived in Germany for two months, and I lived 335 00:34:58,840 --> 00:35:05,280 in about a month in America, actually exchange students in undergrad and South Carolina and 336 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:14,720 all places. So I tasted before I make decisions. And from that taste of life in Germany and 337 00:35:14,720 --> 00:35:21,880 USA, I've learned that in Germany, I could tell that, oh, well, Schubert must be walking 338 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:26,120 on the street or, you know, Beethoven was lived in, you know, all of that was such a 339 00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:32,360 so close to the tradition, yet I was foreigner. For the first time, I felt that I am Asian. 340 00:35:32,360 --> 00:35:39,880 What is Asian? I was like, Yoon, what is Asian? But I felt that I'm Asian every single day, 341 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:45,920 which I realized that I can get over that. Hopefully this is better now in Europe and 342 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:50,400 in Germany. But at the time, I really felt that for the first time ever in my life that 343 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:56,760 I am not June, but I'm Asian. And some that I decided also German was so difficult. I 344 00:35:56,760 --> 00:36:06,200 cannot even fake German. And I decided, okay, USA is the way to go. And then I Yahoo, you 345 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:12,520 know, search at that time, what is the best university in America? And there's Juilliard 346 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:18,620 and Indiana University in Midwest and then USC in West Coast. So I auditioned all three 347 00:36:18,620 --> 00:36:26,320 and I actually got in all but I chose to go to Indiana. Indiana is a wonderful school. 348 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:30,320 Everybody wants to go there. Yeah. And how was the experience at Indiana University? 349 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:40,520 It was like a really straightforward, all glorious. Yes. Wow, that's great. Very fancy 350 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:48,280 way. It is a fantasy world that because of that reason, it has pros and cons because 351 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:54,560 you are detached from the real world again. It was really special place. Bloomington is 352 00:36:54,560 --> 00:37:00,600 special place in the middle of nowhere. Indiana is the one of the best school in the field. 353 00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:06,120 Then there's best music, you know, library and the teachers all over the world, you know, 354 00:37:06,120 --> 00:37:13,200 Prassler, Stocker, George Sheppard and all of the great pedagogues there. And then everybody 355 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:18,520 is talking about classical music. The four different concert hall has at least two or 356 00:37:18,520 --> 00:37:24,640 three different concert grand Steinway to choose from. I can nerd out about Beethoven's 357 00:37:24,640 --> 00:37:29,240 Sonata with the friends for all night long and doesn't feel anything different about 358 00:37:29,240 --> 00:37:35,320 it and all about classical music, classical music environment, even for the people who 359 00:37:35,320 --> 00:37:42,240 live locally very into opera and whatever. So I didn't want to wake up from that dream. 360 00:37:42,240 --> 00:37:48,560 I did not realize that was a dream and fantasy and well, I did it for a while, but I'm glad 361 00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:56,280 that I sense that world even for time period. Yeah, yeah, that's, that's great. Hey friends 362 00:37:56,280 --> 00:38:02,200 and listeners. The piano part is in its third season. Thanks to all of you for watching 363 00:38:02,200 --> 00:38:07,920 or listening to every episode since the launch in 2020. I started this show with a simple 364 00:38:07,920 --> 00:38:15,080 question I have had in mind for quite some time, which is how can we as classical pianists 365 00:38:15,080 --> 00:38:21,520 and music educators present the beautiful tradition of classical music to the 21st century 366 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:27,360 audience in a fun, contemporary and engaging way? It's been an incredible journey for 367 00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:32,020 the last three years and I love what I do through this podcast, providing a platform 368 00:38:32,020 --> 00:38:39,120 for pianists and educators to think and discuss freely without any judgment about how we can 369 00:38:39,120 --> 00:38:45,160 keep the classical music industry thriving and relevant in this constantly and rapidly 370 00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:50,680 changing world. Now more than ever, I need your financial support so that I can continue 371 00:38:50,680 --> 00:38:56,940 my work by bringing you highly valuable content bi-weekly by interviewing ground breakers 372 00:38:56,940 --> 00:39:03,360 in the industry. Your support will go directly to all the costs of the piano pod, such as 373 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:09,600 yearly subscription to the podcasting platform, software I use for high quality recording 374 00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:16,280 sessions and tech gears, as well as all the hours I spend researching and audio video 375 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:22,320 editing. You can make one time donation or monthly pledge by clicking the PayPal link 376 00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:29,640 in the show notes or go to the piano pods website at the piano pod.com. As a thank you, 377 00:39:29,640 --> 00:39:35,160 you will receive the piano pods fun logo sticker in the mail. So please support my show today 378 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:40,780 and don't forget to subscribe to my channel, continue listening and tell your friends and 379 00:39:40,780 --> 00:39:47,500 colleagues about the piano pod. Let's continue with this episode. Tell us about what you 380 00:39:47,500 --> 00:39:53,000 experienced after you graduated from Indiana University. Was it all glorious? Like all 381 00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:58,240 the job lined up and gigs lined up and then with the red carpet? Is that what it is? 382 00:39:58,240 --> 00:40:04,160 I wish I thought I never actually thought about it, which is a very naive thinking. 383 00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:08,160 But I didn't even think that is naive because my teacher even didn't mention it. My teacher 384 00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:13,760 was all about how to make this Chopin better, how to phrase Bach better, all of those things. 385 00:40:13,760 --> 00:40:19,400 And we never talked about the world beyond my study. And I'm thankful for that to live 386 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:26,320 in the fantasy world so that I can really be my own artist in that time and dive deep 387 00:40:26,320 --> 00:40:33,400 into the music. But yet I was so detached and I thought maybe at some point that something 388 00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:40,060 will work out. I am doctor, but then when I get the certificate of Dr. Kim, only thing 389 00:40:40,060 --> 00:40:46,560 different was that people can call me doctor. But then same morning, the same sun goes up 390 00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:53,360 and yesterday, today it's the same. Nothing changed. I knock on my door, do you know this 391 00:40:53,360 --> 00:41:00,440 tour to the world? You know, the job application for it, you know, after I became a doctor, 392 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:08,440 I thought maybe professor is very secure track, you know, and I really thought that that's 393 00:41:08,440 --> 00:41:13,920 what I wanted or that's what I should pursue and that's safe. And maybe that was a dream 394 00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:21,240 of my mom. I don't know. So I pursued without thinking much. But then rejection after rejection, 395 00:41:21,240 --> 00:41:29,520 I was like, I felt so small that just with my resume, like, I study so much. But then 396 00:41:29,520 --> 00:41:35,720 that becomes just one line. She got her doctorate degree in Indiana University. That's it. That's 397 00:41:35,720 --> 00:41:41,960 it. Like, what I did so much. I'm more diverse person than just one line. But how could I 398 00:41:41,960 --> 00:41:47,720 share that, you know, but then I pursue and pursue. I don't know how long I think it was 399 00:41:47,720 --> 00:41:53,020 after that I actually went back to school to study piano pedagogy and master's degree. 400 00:41:53,020 --> 00:41:57,880 By that time, people thought I was crazy to go back to school. But it was a genuine curiosity 401 00:41:57,880 --> 00:42:04,200 of how I could teach better because I wanted to teach four years old as well as the most 402 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:10,920 advanced shopping pieces. But I could do that advanced pieces, but I had no idea how to 403 00:42:10,920 --> 00:42:17,480 start four years old. That gap was so much and it bothered me so much. So in the meantime, 404 00:42:17,480 --> 00:42:22,680 when I'm figuring out my life, let me get to learn about this gap because I wanted to 405 00:42:22,680 --> 00:42:29,080 be better teacher. So in the meantime, I was applying everywhere. I'm hoping that maybe 406 00:42:29,080 --> 00:42:34,560 this degree will help me to get to another job. Like, what else do you need? I get that 407 00:42:34,560 --> 00:42:40,400 you stop and then another degree in pedagogy. I'm like, I'm a dynamo in terms of degree 408 00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:47,680 can go. But then still, no, you know, and then the final rejection that I got was so 409 00:42:47,680 --> 00:42:52,600 close. I was a final three. And that by that point, I was thinking like, I got this, I've 410 00:42:52,600 --> 00:42:59,440 got it. They should want me like I have the one for you, you know, but then I still didn't 411 00:42:59,440 --> 00:43:07,280 get it. And that was hard. No, that was hard to take at that time. It was in San Diego, 412 00:43:07,280 --> 00:43:13,680 you know, one of the university and that time though, because the no was so close, but did 413 00:43:13,680 --> 00:43:20,240 still know was no at the end. And I was started to think, wait a second, do I want to be a 414 00:43:20,240 --> 00:43:25,640 professor? I don't want to be in some foreign land, start from that letter up for what, 415 00:43:25,640 --> 00:43:30,680 you know, and I started to really question my motivation of becoming a professor. And 416 00:43:30,680 --> 00:43:37,120 then more I searched for it, then I actually like the financial security comes with it, 417 00:43:37,120 --> 00:43:43,800 not the job itself. I really like the idea of it. But I really would hate to teach piano 418 00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:50,400 one for every year. I would hate to write it emails after emails, a committee, you know, 419 00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:55,000 committee members and all of those job follows that like suffocating is not actually academia, 420 00:43:55,000 --> 00:44:01,760 although I was there, academia all my life, but I hate it. I hate that structure. So then 421 00:44:01,760 --> 00:44:10,760 I like, you know, I am gonna close the door completely, not just adjunct to hoping that 422 00:44:10,760 --> 00:44:15,720 I get into some lecture position, none of that, I'm just gonna know, would that be 423 00:44:15,720 --> 00:44:23,720 okay? And I thought, you know, it sounds fairly miserable for me for my, my personality to 424 00:44:23,720 --> 00:44:31,440 stuck in a somewhere just for what, you know, so from then, then I was started to think, 425 00:44:31,440 --> 00:44:39,200 okay, now I'm still jobless, still like nothing. And from there, I started my own business 426 00:44:39,200 --> 00:44:44,680 of teaching studio from the knowledge that I gained from pedagogy classes and all things. 427 00:44:44,680 --> 00:44:51,640 And I took it as a very serious business. And I, I opened Dr. Kim piano Academy in the 428 00:44:51,640 --> 00:44:54,960 thinking that I'm only going to take five students because I want to do something else 429 00:44:54,960 --> 00:45:02,180 too. But I started very legit business model and policies and everything. And that was 430 00:45:02,180 --> 00:45:08,160 one channel. But then in my mind, I want to now devote myself as a pianist. How can I 431 00:45:08,160 --> 00:45:13,240 do that? And that's one of the way I thought as a first step, one of the first step is 432 00:45:13,240 --> 00:45:18,280 that I want to create an album, I wanted to always wanted to have an album, but how one 433 00:45:18,280 --> 00:45:23,040 starts album is that the Deutsche Grammophon is have to contact me, they're supposed to 434 00:45:23,040 --> 00:45:30,720 contact me, but they didn't, you know, like, I want to start, I want to make album, I have 435 00:45:30,720 --> 00:45:39,080 idea I wanted to create an album that collection of all my dear friends that one of the dear 436 00:45:39,080 --> 00:45:44,800 dearest to my heart, so that I could play every concert, it's encore always like among 437 00:45:44,800 --> 00:45:51,400 all of my studies, those pieces always come weaving into my life come and go. So I maybe 438 00:45:51,400 --> 00:45:55,960 12 pieces of those and I want to collect it and I called it as a 10 more minutes because 439 00:45:55,960 --> 00:46:03,760 it's it's it's represent for me the longing, longing for not 10 years 10 days, but 10 more 440 00:46:03,760 --> 00:46:11,280 minutes. And with this pieces that I always wanted to long for more. And so I wanted to 441 00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:17,460 present this idea to the world. And that was also mind boggling idea like, you know, I'm 442 00:46:17,460 --> 00:46:22,960 not starving to death, but why I'm asking for money for others to you know, so it was 443 00:46:22,960 --> 00:46:28,720 very uncomfortable, I was really uncomfortable place to ask for money for my album. But I 444 00:46:28,720 --> 00:46:36,160 decided I am an artist that I'm contributing building with what I can do to create this 445 00:46:36,160 --> 00:46:42,200 is not for me, but to create a beauty into the world. And people donate to art, they 446 00:46:42,200 --> 00:46:48,280 can donate to the symphony, or this organization, they can contribute to my project too. So 447 00:46:48,280 --> 00:46:54,520 I was kind of like started to like mentally train myself and started to talk about talk 448 00:46:54,520 --> 00:47:00,600 to the world that I have this idea, it would be wonderful if you can be part of it, join 449 00:47:00,600 --> 00:47:05,900 me, you know, join me to experience this process. And I did that through Kickstarter that was 450 00:47:05,900 --> 00:47:14,240 $30,000 pledge. And that felt like a lot of money, you know, and who could do that and 451 00:47:14,240 --> 00:47:19,120 and I even talking to my friends was difficult, like, I like, oh, you know, I have a song 452 00:47:19,120 --> 00:47:23,400 project, but I don't know if you can do it, you know, I was very shy about it. But the 453 00:47:23,400 --> 00:47:27,280 more and more I talk about it, and I feel like it's okay, you know, you don't have 454 00:47:27,280 --> 00:47:34,240 to even even just give me like a go for it, you're doing great. That is enough to then 455 00:47:34,240 --> 00:47:40,320 it became successful. It's miracle itself. I mean, there's there's many miracles. But 456 00:47:40,320 --> 00:47:46,040 none of those are that kind of miracle that because I do my best, but I I'm not in control 457 00:47:46,040 --> 00:47:52,500 over that outcome. But the outcome was successful. So I'm thankful. But I made that move. I was 458 00:47:52,500 --> 00:47:57,920 vulnerable in front of people that wanted and they're the interesting thing was that 459 00:47:57,920 --> 00:48:06,960 people donate even a dollar for this album felt like it's their project. It became everybody's 460 00:48:06,960 --> 00:48:13,920 project project. And it it felt like this is becoming a playground with so many people 461 00:48:13,920 --> 00:48:18,920 together. I shared that Oh, now I'm New York to recording this re project. Wish me luck. 462 00:48:18,920 --> 00:48:23,960 Oh, I just you know, now I'm doing you know, cover the photography, you know, they were 463 00:48:23,960 --> 00:48:30,800 there every step of this album, and they become like faithful lifelong fans. And then, you 464 00:48:30,800 --> 00:48:37,160 know, in the similar timeframe, about that time, one of my friend came to Carnegie Hall, 465 00:48:37,160 --> 00:48:42,320 and went to Mitsuko Chida's concert and gave me this postcard and asked Mitsuko Chida and 466 00:48:42,320 --> 00:48:47,320 say, Can you write it? Why not? on top of the postcard? And he said, Why not? And then 467 00:48:47,320 --> 00:48:52,880 it's like, Yes, please write right now for my friend with pianist. And so she gave me 468 00:48:52,880 --> 00:48:58,520 that postcard signed by Mitsuko Chida and saying why not. And until that time, Carnegie 469 00:48:58,520 --> 00:49:03,480 Hall is something like so far away. When you know, like, everybody's like, Oh, when are 470 00:49:03,480 --> 00:49:07,880 you going to play Carnegie Hall? Ha ha ha. Like, you know, it's more like a joke. It's, 471 00:49:07,880 --> 00:49:14,200 it'll be nice. But then it's so far, you know, why? How? Or do I even need it? You know, 472 00:49:14,200 --> 00:49:23,080 I justify myself. And then when I look at that postcard, I felt like, Why not? Yeah, 473 00:49:23,080 --> 00:49:29,680 why not? I mean, it's, it's not like I've done worse, you know, it's another concert. 474 00:49:29,680 --> 00:49:35,480 But how? I was genuinely curious. So I called the next morning at Carnegie Hall booking 475 00:49:35,480 --> 00:49:40,240 office and I called nine o'clock when they just opened the office. And I called and then 476 00:49:40,240 --> 00:49:45,360 someone get up and get the phone like immediately just like a New Yorker, you know, and they 477 00:49:45,360 --> 00:49:50,040 said, Hello, and Carnegie Hall booking office. And I said, You know, you don't know me, but 478 00:49:50,040 --> 00:49:58,080 I am classical pianist. I'm just wondering, how can one play in Carnegie Hall? And when 479 00:49:58,080 --> 00:50:03,960 I said that words, I felt like how ridiculous in my sound at the same time, how many calls 480 00:50:03,960 --> 00:50:09,560 this person gets a day, you know, all of those above. And then he was talking about long 481 00:50:09,560 --> 00:50:14,200 list of things that what you need, you need a presenter, you need the credentials that 482 00:50:14,200 --> 00:50:18,620 you need to like, you know, lullah, whatever that was, it was like long 10 minutes of she 483 00:50:18,620 --> 00:50:24,560 told me what what what I might need it. And then I hang up. And when I hang up and looking 484 00:50:24,560 --> 00:50:30,840 at the wall and thinking like, at the very moment, I felt that there's some light turn 485 00:50:30,840 --> 00:50:39,960 on. Oh, this is not fantasy. So steps. If I follow the steps, I play Carnegie Hill, 486 00:50:39,960 --> 00:50:45,400 just like that. Right. It's not a just like in lullaland. So then I was thinking, like, 487 00:50:45,400 --> 00:50:50,280 what was the steps that she mentioned? Like, what I what I need? And I made a phone call, 488 00:50:50,280 --> 00:50:57,080 whatever that I needed. And, you know, to make a long story short, I was in the Carnegie 489 00:50:57,080 --> 00:51:04,440 Hall debut concert with the people who donated so much in more minutes Kickstarter project 490 00:51:04,440 --> 00:51:10,800 from Indiana from San Diego from San Francisco, they wanted to fly. Oh, my goodness. Carnegie 491 00:51:10,800 --> 00:51:16,600 Hall. I have no connection in New York. I don't know anybody. But it was sold out with 492 00:51:16,600 --> 00:51:23,320 the people wanted to be there. And then in the backstage, I could hear the chatter noise. 493 00:51:23,320 --> 00:51:30,360 And I knew that became sold out on the day I knew. And I felt like, who am I to deserve 494 00:51:30,360 --> 00:51:38,320 this love? Who deserve this? And it felt like it's not my life. It's for them. It's for 495 00:51:38,320 --> 00:51:46,040 them. I need to give 1000% to give back what they gave me. And when I went on onto the 496 00:51:46,040 --> 00:51:52,120 stage, as always, there's a microphone, no program, people are very confused. What is 497 00:51:52,120 --> 00:51:59,000 she's gonna play? And then I get onto the stage and on the microphone and said, welcome 498 00:51:59,000 --> 00:52:07,720 to my dream. And that moment was dreamlike, but it was reality. But it felt like a dream. 499 00:52:07,720 --> 00:52:17,640 And that's how I feel like my life has been. Yes, I made a phone call. Yes, I put the idea 500 00:52:17,640 --> 00:52:23,400 into the world about Kickstarter, my album. But then when I did that, there's another 501 00:52:23,400 --> 00:52:30,960 force carried me, then I go and I go. But the first step was always me. The first vulnerable, 502 00:52:30,960 --> 00:52:38,040 courageous move was always me. But then when I did, vulnerable, open myself, expose myself, 503 00:52:38,040 --> 00:52:46,280 there are people that carried me. And that that's a magic. That's the part that I can't 504 00:52:46,280 --> 00:52:51,560 do it on my own. Beautiful. What a beautiful story. And you're coming to New York again. 505 00:52:51,560 --> 00:52:56,720 Yes, right. Yes. Yeah, that's great. We're gonna talk more about it later. But that's 506 00:52:56,720 --> 00:53:04,040 so amazing. Yes, maybe I'm I need to get a ticket and come and see you. Thanks for listening 507 00:53:04,040 --> 00:53:09,640 to part one of this episode with Dr. G. Yoon Kim. As briefly mentioned during the show, 508 00:53:09,640 --> 00:53:16,080 G Yoon is performing at Carnegie Hall in June 2023. The tickets are available and selling 509 00:53:16,080 --> 00:53:21,040 quickly. So grab your seats now on Carnegie Hall's website, which I listed in the show 510 00:53:21,040 --> 00:53:27,560 notes. Tune in next Tuesday, March 21 at 8pm Eastern for the second half of this fun episode 511 00:53:27,560 --> 00:53:32,400 with G Yoon. Please don't forget to rate and review my show wherever you listen to your 512 00:53:32,400 --> 00:53:55,440 podcast.