Sunday, February 26, 2012

Chad Larsen-Part 1/5


*Note: In the following story, a bunch of names of people and places have been changed. To know the real names, please contact me personally.


I would like to take a moment to talk about a musician in the dance department at Oklahoma State University by the name of Chad Larsen. According to Matthew Sbolci, music director of  OSU’s dance department, Larsen is anything but the average dance musician. Most musicians can play for either ballet or modern, but Larsen, who has over 35 years of experience, can do both. “Chad is a musician with an incredible scope of musical styles and genres,” says Sbolci, “His technique at the keyboard or piano is impeccable. He is not only a wonderful improviser but also a great interpreter or the classical repertory.”
When Larsen was younger, he dreamed of having piano lessons, except for a maximum of 6-10 sporadic lessons scattered throughout his youth, Larsen* started his formal training at age 18 ½. The opportunity happened just by chance. Larsen’s friend, Reid Olmstead*, who later became a very accomplished pianist brought Larsen along to one of his piano lessons. Olmstead was lucky enough to study with world-renowned music teacher Richard Harling.* Harling carefully chose his students, who came from all over the world to study with him. His students tended to be both talented and accomplished. Therefore, Harling did not accept beginners.
Olmstead was in the middle of his lesson with Larsen looking on. Suddenly, Olmstead decided to say something out of the blue. “Chad wants to take piano lessons,” said Olmstead. Harling thought for a moment and then ushered Larsen to the piano. “I was floored when he said that,” says Larsen. Harling asked him to play something. Larsen hesitated then declined, but Harling absolutely insisted. “He didn’t let me say no,” says Larsen, who then played a section of Samuel Barber’s “Excursions for the Piano,” a very difficult piece. Larsen thought he did a horrible job. “I don’t know what I was thinking, says Larsen of his music choice.
(Larsen(2nd from left)-with family in the 1970s-unknown photographer-courtesy Chad Larsen)

However, something about Larsen’s playing made Harling realize how talented Larsen was. Therefore, Harling made an exception, accepting Larsen as a beginning student. To make sure Larsen was really serious, Harling gave him Chopin’s Nocturne in B minor to play for his first piece. Larsen worked with Harling for a total of nine years.

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