State of Purpose Application for MM JAZZ studies, Fall, 2021

Hung-Chih Huang
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• Introduction:

⁃ I want to apply for Jazz Studies, either BM or MM, for I currently don’t sure
which degree does match my music skill. Having learning playing guitar for 8
years so far, I started to play jazz for 3 years ago. To me, Jazz music opens
my mind, ears, and lots of perspective to my whole life.

• Academic background:

⁃ Though graduated from Management Information System, NCCU, I rarely

focused on those required courses such as coding, accounting, marketing
and so on. Taking part in outside courses like Psychology, Culture of
Curating, Analysis of Movie and Film Score is what I am obsessed with. Also,
attending guitar club as an instructor, performing at some activities and
participating in Fingerstyle competitions are one of my favorite things.
Another stu is playing basketball with my college friends for ve years.

• After Graduation and the rst time I met Jazz:

⁃ Finishing the military service, I occasionally attended a mini concert

performed by Hope Yeh, a great guitarist from Taiwan. It was that night that
changed my life, making me altering my career. Before then, I knew nothing
about jazz.

• Working experience :

⁃ I have worked for some position, most of which are part-time jobs. As a
business development intern, warehousing management part-time worker,
musical instrument shop part-time worker and private home teacher currently.
Choosing part-time jobs is for much time to practice my musical skills.

• How I start to learn jazz:

⁃ Since the end of 2017, I started to audit foundation jazz courses taught by
Hope Yeh at Tainan National University of the Arts for nearly two semester.
Learning Jazz History, Jazz Harmony, Jazz Ensemble, and Jazz Rhythm, I
also purchased his online courses and started from scratch to enhance my
skills.

⁃ In 2019, I started signed up the Jazz ensemble courses o ered by SizhuKong

Private Jazz Teaching Institution, where some great Taiwanese Jazz players
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 give lectures. Additionally, taking courses about ear training and foundation
piano harmony lectured by Andy Ja e is important and helpful.
⁃ After taking courses in SizhuKong for one and a half years, ve small combo
courses, two basic courses, and one bass playing training taught by Toshi
Fuji. I had started to take part in my friend’s band as a sideman and form my
band since 2020. There are some YouTube playlists listed below about our
performance.

• Motivation:

⁃ Honestly, I am extremely obsessed with New York, where most of great,

talented players play together. There are a lot of clubs and bars like 55bar,
Smalls, Bar Next Door, Village Vanguard and so on, where the great and pure
music happed every night. Moreover, lots of great players from other
countries bring their culture and music, which impresses me a lot.

⁃ There are two reason that I want to choose to apply for CCNY. One is there
are many professional private lessons for di erent instruments. The other is
that there are lots of courses laying a solid foundation to be a musician.

• Future Career Plan:

⁃ In short term, what I must do is still learning, practicing, listening,

transcribing, and after school I must go to these amazing clubs and bars to
listen those great music and jam with others.

⁃ After graduation, I will stay in New York for three to ve years. There is no end
about learning jazz. I hope I can still immerse in this beautiful place to
improve myself. Furthermore, I hope I can travel to di erent countries to
interact and exchange ideas with other musicians. Ultimately, what I learned
can enrich my life, my thought and even make both ends meet.
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