Arts Scholars 2nd Year Project

Chopsticks Variation

Stefanie Liu Wyszkowski

wyszkowski.3@buckeyemail.osu.edu

Biology Major and Piano Minor on Pre-Dental Track

 

Description

I planned on performing “Chopsticks!” arranged by Kurt Hugo Schneider at the annual Arts Scholars Showcase in Spring 2020. Due to COVID-19, I submitted a video of me performing this piece on a baby grand piano that I had previously performed at my high school’s talent show in 2018. “Chopsticks!” took a simple piano piece and added complex variations to it.

 

Process

I had always wanted to perform a solo piece in front of my peers and other fellow Arts Scholars because I’m passionate about playing the piano. I had performed “Chopsticks!” in the past and this piece combines some of my favorite classical works, including Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata No. 14, 3rd Movement” (“Moonlight Sonata”), Rachmaninoff’s “Prelude No. 2, Op. 3”, and Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2”. I had so much fun performing this piece in front of my peers in the past, and I decided to perform it again. After I decided on what piece to perform, I started practicing right away in the practice rooms at Hughes Hall. I practiced a lot after my classes throughout the week, and once spring break arrived, I practiced even more at home. As I started getting more used to the notes, I added dynamics to give the piece more musicality.

 

Results

Due to COVID-19 cancelling classes, I decided to submit my past performance of “Chopsticks!”, and I thought it was one of the most fun performances I have ever done. “Chopsticks!” was an enjoyable song play, and mostly everyone was familiar with playing “Chopsticks” on the piano as beginners. Even though I couldn’t perform this piece live, I’m excited to showcase my performance in front of my other Arts Scholars via live stream.

 

Reflection

As a result from performing “Chopsticks!”, I gained a lot of confidence in myself. After switching my major from Piano Performance to Biology, I don’t have much time to practice due to other classes, labs, and lots of homework. Ever since I switched majors, I haven’t been practicing as much and I definitely feel distant from the piano. It has been difficult to balance practicing the piano with my other duties, and it is something that I miss immensely. As a result, I felt shy to perform a solo piece in front of others and I would never have the time to practice. As a Piano Minor, I don’t have many opportunities to perform because I’m not required to perform a jury and I wouldn’t be allowed to have my own recital as most music majors do during their 3rd or 4th Year. Fortunately, Arts Scholars hosts Showcase every year, and I finally had this “goal” to push me to practice more. Practicing for Showcase reconnected me to the piano and even though I couldn’t perform “Chopsticks!” in front of a live audience, I gained the confidence that I’m still capable of performing in front of others.

Performing at Arts Showcase has shown me to be more actively involved in the Art Scholars community, and to continue to participate in the Art Scholars community in the future. When I was deciding on what piece to perform for Showcase, I listened to several other amazing piano pieces that I would have loved to learn. I gained a better appreciation for many other piano works and composers, and I’m eager to learn about more works of arts in the future. Arts Scholars is a program that is meant to display the passion of different types of art both in- and outside the OSU community. As a result from this project, I hope to attend more music performances held in Columbus and attend different Arts Scholars’ events.

This project has benefited my future career goals by showing me how to manage my time. Juggling between classes, working, homework, and practicing, I need to find time to learn new pieces. I learned how to time manage better, which is a skill that I will use in the future when studying for the DCAT, working in a dental office, and taking other classes.

 

Pictures/Visuals

 

My First Semester at OSU

Overall, my first semester at OSU was incredible and eye-opening. At first, I was scared that classes were going to be impossibly difficult, that I wasn’t going to make any friends, and that I would struggle with going to such a massive school with so many people. Almost four months later, I’ve learned that I can succeed in my classes if I work my hardest, I’ve learned to make the closest friends I’ve ever had, and I’ve learned to be myself both in the classroom and in the dorm. College was a huge adjustment for me and I’ve learned to be independent and manage my time so that I’m productive yet social at the same time. 

Arts Scholars is a perfect fit for me – the people are unbelievably talented and kind, and there’s such a supportive environment in the dorm. I’ve learned to appreciate more forms of art as well as experience my friends’ talents in live concerts and shows. Arts Scholars has highly encouraged me to participate and get involved in several intriguing forms of art. One thing that I never thought I would do is attend a Greek Festival, but Arts Scholars showed me that it’s a different environment as well as an interesting place to see other people’s cultures in real life. Also during Arts Scholars Seminar, I learned a lot about the other Arts Scholars and unique ways of how they perceive things. From the projects such as the Inspiration Board, I learned about the various talents and characteristics of people and I learned about how they viewed themselves. Also I loved how Arts Scholars pushed me to experience Short North and visit the various shops and restaurants in town. I learned that I definitely should return for it is a famous and not to mention fun location in Columbus. 

I would like to be involved in Humanities Scholars in the future by continuing to attend my fellow scholars’ concerts and shows, as well as attending more activities in the dorm.

My First Week at OSU

Stefanie Wyszkowski

Arts and Sciences 2000.01: Arts Scholars Seminar

My First Week at OSU

When I first moved into Baker West, everything seemed overwhelming but exciting at the same time. I had already visited OSU’s campus three times, but I still didn’t know how to get to certain buildings. Also, I was nervous about being social in my dorm and in classes because I come from a small, private, all-girl school with a graduating class of 24. The people in my dorm are outgoing and I learned that they are reliable in every situation. This helped me to adjust to the atmosphere better because I realized I can go to my roommate or my neighbors whenever I need help.

Welcome Week was a once-in-a-lifetime experience I will always remember. Everywhere was crowded with thousands of students and it made me anxious to see so many people. Overall, Welcome Week was entertaining and there was never a dull moment. At Convocation in the Schottenstein Center, I loved seeing all the freshmen gathered to celebrate the start of the new school year. Listening to President Drake and Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston speak made me proud to be a Buckeye and excited to learn at the collegiate level. Another memory from Welcome Week was the Involvement Fair where I learned how to meet new people and engage in activities outside of the dorm. I signed up for the clubs I was passionate about such as Club Tennis and several health clubs. One thing I learned from the Involvement Fair was that OSU has so much to offer to students and I should be proud of be apart of a school that can build potential.

My schedule is drastically different in college than it was during high school. My parents aren’t here to tell me to be productive, I can’t drive wherever I want, my “school day” is shorter in college, I have to buy my own groceries/supplies, and I have numerous food options. I learned to create a different schedule everyday to make sure I’m using my time efficiently while also being on time for classes and extracurriculars. Though I enjoy the company of my family and having someone to depend on at home, I love being independent and experiencing the advantages of being a student.

Year in Review

[ “Year in Review”  is where you should reflect on the past year and show how you have evolved as a person and as a student.  You may want to focus on your growth in a particular area (as a leader, scholar, researcher, etc.) or you may want to talk about your overall experience over the past year.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.

  • Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc.
  • Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
  • Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
  • Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
  • Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.]

Career

[“Career” is where you can collect information about your experiences and skills that will apply to your future career.  Like your resume, this is information that will evolve over time and should be continually updated.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

Artifacts

[Artifacts are the items you consider to be representative of your academic interests and achievements. For each entry, include both an artifact and a detailed annotation.  An annotation includes both a description of the artifact and a reflection on why it is important to you, what you learned, and what it means for your next steps.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

About Me

[Your “About Me” is a brief biographical statement that might include your intended major, your academic interests, your goals, as well as the things that make you unique.  Definitely include a picture! Also, remember that you can always update this post at any point. For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]