Every month, we like to spotlight one of our incredible Elemental Music teachers. Some of them have been teaching with us for close to a decade while others might be in their first year of working for our organization, but there is one thing that all of our teachers have in common: their dedication to the young musicians in our programs.
This month, we are featuring Sofia Kim. This is Sofia’s first season teaching in our programs and we are excited to have her working with us as an upper strings coach in Academy Philharmonic!
Elemental Music: How did you get started playing your instrument?
Sofia Kim: I have an older brother who is seven years older than me. Being from a traditional Korean immigrant family, my mom pushed him to start violin lessons, which he hated. Therefore, he never practiced. I, on the other hand, was always so drawn to the instrument and was super envious that my brother got to play and I didn't. I begged and begged for lessons but my mom was convinced that I wouldn't practice either so she never felt inclined to start lessons for me. For about two years, I insisted on going to all my brother's lessons as a bystander and dad felt so bad for me that he surprised everyone, my mom included, with a new violin for me purchased during one of his work trips in Korea. It was shortly after that when my very own violin lessons started around age 7.
Sofia performs a movement from Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor with Indiana University's Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Federico Cortese.
EM: What inspired you to teach in addition to performing?
SK: My main inspiration for wanting to teach comes from my very own teachers -- Henry Gronnier, Simin Ganatra, Almita and Roland Vamos. They all made such an impression on me during my most formative years -- not just as a performer and violinist but also as an individual. Their lasting impact on my life has led me to teach earnestly and passionately. Most of my teaching methods have been directly rooted in what I have learned from them. I have also been incredibly lucky to have mentors who are renowned string pedagogues like Mimi Zweig and Stacia Spencer. I took both of their String Pedagogy classes during my college years and was involved in both of their String Academies. My time with them has also really shaped me as a music educator.
EM: I know this is your first season teaching with Elemental Music. What is your favorite thing about coaching Academy Philharmonic so far?
SK: So far, I have loved hearing the progress week-to-week! There is a significant improvement after each rehearsal so that's been really exciting to witness. I am really looking forward to the concert.
EM: What is one of your favorite musical memories?
SK: It's so difficult to choose just one but I know my favorite musical memories always include collaboration with others. One of my favorite musical memories includes my string quartet from Indiana University. We were the student ensemble-in-residence for two years at IU and during that time, we travelled to Bonn, Germany (the birthplace of Beethoven) to perform a recital program and work closely with Beethoven scholars for a week. It was incredibly special being able to be so close to Beethoven's manuscripts, conversation books, letters, metronomes, instruments, and even a lock of his hair!
EM: If you could give our students one piece of advice, musical or otherwise, what would it be?
SK: One piece of musical advice is just that -- be musical. No matter how much you have technically drilled a passage, in the end you have to play it musically. No one really ever goes to a concert and comments "Wow, that violinist was so in tune!" Rather, we remember how a performance moved us. Therefore, always approach everything with great musical intention. Approach practice musically, approach finding bowings and fingerings musically, and always approach a phrase with a clear musical vision. Communicating our musical convictions with others is why we do what we do!
EM: Is there anything else you'd like to add, that you think might be interesting for our community?
SK: During the pandemic, I actually worked on my dissertation quite a bit which explores the classical music sector's response to the last great pandemic of 1918-1920. This project was the coming together of many of my interests including music, history, reading, and writing. The work is still in progress but I am hoping to be finished with it by 2022! Fingers crossed!