LOVE FOR JAZZ: Malaysian jazz pianist Michael Veerapan addressing the audience during the jazz piano clinics held at UCSI.

TALENTED PIANIST: UCSI’s School Head of Contemporary Music Programme Justin Lim during his clinic titled, ‘Introduction to Jazz Piano Voicings’.

TALENTED PIANIST: UCSI’s School Adjunct Lecturer Cheah Wei Li introducing his topic – ‘Transcribing Jazz’ – to the audience during the jazz clinic.

CAPTIVATED CROWD: UCSI’s School Head of Contemporary Music Programme Justin Lim conducting a lighthearted demo for the audience during his jazz clinic titled, ‘Introduction to Jazz Piano Voicings’.

KUALA LUMPUR: UCSI University (UCSI) recently hosted two jazz piano clinics – attended by Malaysian jazz pianist Michael Veerapan and over 80 students from UCSI and other universities – on campus grounds. 

Organised by the Malaysian Jazz Piano Festival, the clinics hoped to not only promote greater interest in jazz piano – especially among classical musicians – but also produce more jazz pianists on the local front. 

Set in the Recital Hall, the first clinic – titled, ‘Introduction to Jazz Piano Voicings’ – was conducted by UCSI’s School of Music Head of Contemporary Music Programme Justin Lim Fang Yee while the afternoon saw the School’s Adjunct Lecturer Cheah Wei Li speak on ‘Transcribing Jazz’. 

According to Lim, the clinics zeroed in on jazz piano as the core focus because “it is not yet well known among the younger generation despite there being many jazz pianists here.” 

“So many students want to take classical (music) and that’s all they’re aware of. This would be good (exposure to jazz piano) in the long run,” says Lim, whose clinic highlighted chords used by jazz pianists and playing in an ensemble. 

As for Cheah, ‘Transcribing Jazz’ is, personally, a very big part of who he is as a jazz pianist – the reason the talented 29-year-old chose the topic in the first place. 

One of the few ways to learn jazz, jazz transcription is basically imitating, copying and learning the jazz language. 

“Based on experience, in terms of transcribing, students only mechanically follow what is taught and don’t know where it’s coming from, musically,” he says. “I hope the clinics will help them gain clearer understanding on this approach and the outcomes.” 

Lighthearted and cleverly punctuated with audio clips of other jazz pianists, lots of audience interaction and engaging piano-playing sessions, the clinics were very well received by the young audience, who stayed glued to their seats till the end of each session. 

With time, it is hoped that the Malaysian Jazz Piano Festival will hit the international stage and feature not just local pianists but also other distinguished pianists from all over the globe.