Adamson, Zachary
Attending Study Abroad in Vienna, Austria
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Scott Holden, Keyboard Performance Department Chair
Throughout my life, music has been a source for mental development, spiritual growth and
enjoyment. It has been at times both exciting and discouraging. As I completed my project,
however, and engaged in the struggle to understand music, perform music and connect with
others around me, I developed a greater vision of how music unifies the human experience,
creating a positive influence on society. Specifically, I learned that valuing the arts is extremely
advantageous for a society, and Vienna is a case in point; I learned specific techniques in piano
playing, a kind of common legacy and style shared by many Vienna piano instructors; and I had
a number of very personal, spiritual experiences as I immersed myself in the music and culture
of Vienna, including performing with the other students.
Vienna is a fantastic example of a culture in which the arts take a high precedence, ranking
equally in importance with sciences, humanities and other disciplines. The value that is placed
on music and the arts is evident in a number of ways. As I talked with some current Vienna
residents, I learned that employment for musicians is a lot stabler and in greater availability than
in the United States. For instance, whereas opera musicians in the U.S. must constantly seek
out performances with various opera houses, in Vienna opera musicians work under long term
contracts, where employment is guaranteed for the full duration of the contract. Another
example of the value placed on the arts is the way in which children are exposed to music.
Interestingly, I also spoke with a professor who has been involved in creating exciting, fun music
camps for children, giving them a chance to learn basic music principle and interact with
professional symphony musicians. I saw clear effects arising from this arts-orientated culture;
many non-musicians I met in Vienna had a great appreciation for classical music and a few
shared with me their favorite composers or pieces of music.
In addition to the knowledge I gained about music culture, I was amazed at the way in which the
piano professors in Vienna taught piano technique. Although there were many differences in
physical technique, I noticed a similarity in the way each professor wanted the music to sound,
or in other words the ideal musical result. Specifically, every professor taught that the music
should have a natural contour or line, as in singing or speaking with a human voice. Just like we
naturally emphasize certain syllables when we speak, music should also speak with a natural
ebb and flow. It struck me that the reason this way of teaching is so effective lies in the fact that
it connects with the human experience; all music started as singing, and eventually instrument
accompaniments were added. Furthermore, instrumental music originated as an imitation of the
expression of the human voice. Learning this gave me a desire to make the piano “sing” in my
own playing, but perhaps more importantly, I now have the goal to use music to connect with
the human experience in a deeper, more relatable way; in so doing, I hope to help others
around me appreciate music and improve society as a whole.
Perhaps some of the most memorable experiences I had while in Vienna were during musical
performances of great orchestras or skilled solo musicians. Krystian Zimerman, a world
renowned pianist, performed Franz Schubert’s last piano sonata, written when the composer
was near to death. Earlier in the same day of the performance, I visited the apartment where
Schubert died. The experience of being in the exact place where Schubert died, then hearing a
powerful performance of one of his last written compositions, had a profound effect on me. More
than ever before, I thought very deeply about the expression of human experience in Schubert’s
music and I felt a strong connection to the composer.
This experience, combined with many others, caused something to snap inside of me, a start of
a new awareness, making music more real to me. In the 6 weeks I spent in Vienna, I grew
spiritually and musically in extensive ways; I gained a greater understanding of the way music
interacts with society and the influence it can have. I am so grateful for the chance I had to go to
Vienna. It continues to be a blessing in my life today. I am thrilled for future opportunities to
continue to apply and build upon the experiences I had in Vienna and create a positive influence
in the lives of those around me.
