There are many people in Korea who are faithfully engaged in training children as talented personnel, and some of them are to be found among those at Pyongyang Music School No. 1 of Kim Won Gyun University of Music. One of these days I, as Korea Today reporter, visited the school to interview some of them.
Source of Happiness
Pak Song Hye is a kayagum instructor of the national instrumental music faculty. Having learned from Jong Nam Hui (1904–1985) who was a famous performer and composer, Pak used to be a popular, authoritative kayagum player. Later, however, she decided to devote herself to training younger generations, changing her career dramatically. She knew that if the attraction and taste of the national music were to be maintained it was important to channel efforts into the training of rising generations as people with the national spirit in their mind.
Since she left the stage of great admiration she has devoted all her efforts and wisdom to education in order to carry on the tradition of national music. Under her tutoring a number of students grew up as famous kayagum players and composers. Meanwhile, she wrote different books like Collection of Sanjo Music and Collection of Kayagum Music, which are in wide use at the moment.
More than 30 years have passed since she began to teach at the school. In her 70s, Pak is often asked when she feels the happiest. Then, she replies, “I feel the happiest when I see my disciples enjoy affection and respect from the public.”
Pak still extracts pride and happiness from educational work that is intended to carry on the national sentiment and the features of national rhythms.
Principle in Education
Kang Thae On is a violin instructor of the Western instrumental music faculty. His students often find it strange that Kang teaches them about the piano, drama, opera and other types of sister art. “It is enough for us violin students to learn how to play the violin, isn’t it?” they ask.
But Kang feels never awkward about the question, for it is lessons and truth that he has learned over his long career of instructor that students should have profound and wide-ranging knowledge about cross-disciplinary sciences as well as about their major if they are to be trained to have a versatile ability. His lectures covered ever greater range and content in the fields of ensemble, stage courage, creation, direction and conductorship as well as practical ability. His order to repeat performing was heard more and more frequently, and the level of his requirement rose and rose in determining their practical ability. Meanwhile, he made sure that his students prepared violin solos and ensembles and other programmes and took them to theatres and musical troupes for performances.
Thanks to his strenuous endeavour a lot of students developed into excellent violinists and have distinguished themselves at Samjiyon, Moranbong and other celebrated entertainment bodies.
Ri Kwang Song, a violinist at the National Symphony Orchestra, says, “You can hardly make a successful career if only you wish. Mr Kang taught us the way to success.”
Making education practical is what all the teachers of the school are pursuing at the moment.
“Smart Paediatrician”
Kim Hyon Ok, department chief of the primary course, goes by her nickname of “smart paediatrician.”
One year she found one of her pupils quite good at playing the violin. Always carrying books in her hand the girl had a remarkable memory, and, in particular, her application ability was outstanding among the class. As she had a good deal of common knowledge, she was called “Walking Dictionary.”
While observing the girl closely, Kim decided that she was gifted with rather science than music, and ensured that she was moved to Pyongyang Secondary School No. 1. Her “diagnosis” and “prescription” turned out correct, for the pupil won a national academic contest of primary schoolchildren later.
Under her tutorship Yu Pyol Mi won the top prize and special award at the 56th Schumann International Children’s Piano Contest, Germany, in January 2010, and many other pupils including Choe Jang Hung, Han Si Nae and Ri Yu Jong became world-famous music prodigies and talented artists.
Kim says, “You have to have a good diagnosis and prescription if you are to treat a patient. Likewise, you have to find out the pupils’ preparedness, aptitude and talent correctly and give them proper instruction if you want to train them as brilliant people. In this sense we teachers should become ‘smart paediatricians,’ I would say.”
Kim Son Myong
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