By Andrea Banda
A&E Editor
Already in her fourth semester of the music theory sequence, there isn’t a day that goes by in sophomore Janice Ying’s week without music.
This semester she has a full load of classes, takes two private lessons required for her scholarship, performs in the orchestra, a piano quintet and twice a semester for “Music at Three.”
Ying began playing the piano when she was 5 years old. Her mother enrolled her in a group piano class for kids.
Shortly after the piano class, she took private lessons from a college student at William Jewel College in Kansas, and eventually from a college professor there when she was 7 years old.
Two years later after a family move, Ying began to take piano lessons from the woman who became her favorite piano teacher and the person who influenced her most musically, Maryann Hanschu.
After taking lessons from her for five years, the teacher moved to Colorado and was tragically killed in a double murder that is still unsolved.
“I think that she was the main driving force that kept me going,” Ying said. “When she taught, she was passionate about it and she was successful. She helped me become a better musician. She’s the kind of person you want to be like.”
With the anniversary of her death last week, Ying said it is always hard for her this time of year.
After playing the piano for a few years, Ying decided to play the violin in the fourth-grade orchestra program at her school.
“I thought ‘Well, that might be fun,’ ” Ying said. “My background in piano helped me out a lot. I learned a lot quicker because of that background.”
She later joined the Kansas City Youth Orchestra for seven years, and was in the All-Kansas State Orchestra in high school, where she was eligible all three years.
She also participated in district and state piano competitions during high school, where she received the highest ratings possible.
While her love for music is shared between two different instruments, Ying says right now her favorite is piano.
“I have a shoulder injury that prevents me from playing the violin for a long time,” Ying said.
She has tendonitis and arthritis in her right wrist and a snapping scapula in her left shoulder, which she said gives her a lot of muscle pain. The injuries began during high school and have continued to affect her for the past four years.
Although she currently prefers piano, Ying said she enjoys playing in string ensembles.
“I’d rather be in a group than sitting at a piano by myself,” Ying said.
While Ying’s injury affects her ability to play music right now, she wants to use the experience to help people in the future.
“Right now my idea is to maybe become a physical and occupational therapist to help other musicians with injuries,” Ying said. “I know I could help a lot of people.”
In addition to her activities on campus, Ying also enjoys competing in musical competitions. In February she will compete in the Discovery Artists Competition in Los Angeles where she will perform a piece with an orchestra. If she wins, she will get to play with the Neo West Symphony.
“I want to have another experience with a professional orchestra,” Ying said.
In addition to her busy music schedule this semester, Ying is also taking two lab sciences toward the sports medicine minor she is considering.
“It balances out my life,” Ying said. “So (music) doesn’t make me insane.”
Personal:
Ying is a sophomore music major from Kansas City, Kan.
Siblings: One brother (16).
Favorite soft drink: Coke. “And I can tell the difference,” Ying said.
Favorite band: “Three Doors Down.”
Favorite hobby: “Sleeping is always good because I can never get enough,” Ying said. She also enjoys hanging out with friends.
Favorite movie: “‘Coyote Ugly’ because it’s just a fun, stupid movie that’s really cool,” Ying said. Or “Shawshank Redemption.”
Pet peeve: “I don’t like people who think they’re all that, but aren’t and everyone knows they aren’t,” Ying said.
Favorite animal: “I’m a big dog person, but I like penguins a lot,” Ying said.
Most embarrassing moment: “Last semester in ‘Music at Three’ I started the piece and just forgot it,” Ying said. “People were laughing because they understood. The funny thing was that I didn’t care.”
Favorite food: Chicken marsala.
Favorite restaurant: C & O’s.
Where to catch her next: In the orchestra accompaniment in “The Abduction from the Seraglio” Feb. 20 and 22 (pending her injury), the Chamber Music Ensembles April 8 and at “Music at Three” April 16.
January 30, 2003
