Yi-chuan Chen
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music
Music and Art
EMAIL: yicchen@bmcc.cuny.edu
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Clarinetist Yi-Chuan Chen has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player in concerts, operas, ballets, and theater productions in the United States, Taiwan, Canada, and Japan. She served as principal clarinet with the Orchestra for New York City Ballet during its world tour in Taipei and was invited to give a solo performance at the International ClarinetFest® in Vancouver, Canada.
Based in New York, Chen maintains an active performance schedule, having been seen on the stages of Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Town Hall, Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, and Trinity Church in recent years. She has also appeared in special musical events at the World Trade Center Oculus, Bryant Park, Czech Center New York, UN Headquarters, and the US Capitol. In addition to performing on clarinet, Chen is equally accomplished as a collaborative pianist and multi-instrumentalist.
Chen received her Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The City University of New York. Dr. Chen had served on the teaching staff of the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College and on the faculty of the Professional Studies Program, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. She is currently a faculty member of Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY, the deputy director of the Asian Cultural Symphony, and the music director of Lucidus Ensemble.
Expertise
Solo, chamber, and orchestral performances
Collaborative piano
Woodwind instruments
Music transcription and arrangement
Degrees
The City University of New York
Doctor of Musical Arts, Clarinet performance (2000-2006)
Manhattan School of Music
Master of Music, Clarinet performance (1998-2000)
National Institute of the Arts (Taipei National University of the Arts)
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Music (1993-1998)
Courses Taught
- A listening approach for the understanding of Western music. Students will explore musical examples across various genres with particular attention paid to styles, form, and compositional techniques as related to music history. Credit can be granted for MUS 102 or MUS 103 but not both.
- This course will introduce beginning keyboard skills, reading and writing music in western musical notation, lead sheet symbols, basic music theory, and simple musical composition. Elements of rhythm and rhythmic notation will be approached through popular musical examples.
- This course is the first level of keyboard workshop. Students will develop piano keyboard skills through technical exercises, harmonization exercises, scales and arpeggios, harmonic progressions, sight-reading, transposition, improvisation, score-reading, accompanying, and keyboard ensemble work.
Prerequisite: MUS 105 or MUS 123 - This course is the first level of a four-semester sequence in piano performance skills. The course will focus on the technical and artistic development of students through assigned exercises and piano repertoire. Juries and recitals of solo performances will be required. All applied studies for music majors include a weekly one-hour individual lesson and two-hour studio lab.
Prerequisite: Permission of the department and admission is by audition
Corequisite: MUS 165, MUS 166, MUS 167, MUS 168, MUS 265, MUS 266, MUS 267, MUS 268 or departmental permission - This course is the second level of a four-semester sequence in piano performance skills. The course will focus on the technical and artistic development of students through assigned exercises and piano repertoire. Juries and recitals of solo performances will be required. All applied studies for music majors include a weekly one-hour individual lesson and two-hour studio lab.
Prerequisite: MUS 656
Corequisite: MUS 165, MUS 166, MUS 167, MUS 168, MUS 265, MUS 266, MUS 267, MUS 268 or departmental permission - This course is the third level of a four-semester sequence in piano performance skills. The course will focus on the technical and artistic development of students through assigned exercises and piano repertoire. Juries and recitals of solo performances will be required. All applied studies for music majors include a weekly one-hour individual lesson and two-hour studio lab.
Prerequisite: MUS 657
Corequisite: MUS 165, MUS 166, MUS 167, MUS 168, MUS 265, MUS 266, MUS 267, MUS 268 or departmental permission - This course is the first level of a four-semester sequence in woodwind performance skills. In this course students will study their woodwind instrument of specialty. Concepts and skills covered in the class include techniques of tone production, technical facility, and a survey of the solo and ensemble repertoire. Juries and recitals of solo performances will be required. All applied studies for music majors include a weekly one-hour individual lesson and two-hour studio lab.
Prerequisite: Permission of the department and admission is by audition
Corequisite: MUS 501, MUS 502, MUS 503, MUS 504 or departmental permission - This course is the second level of a four-semester sequence in woodwind performance skills. In this course students will study their woodwind instrument of specialty. Concepts and skills covered in the class include techniques of tone production, technical facility, and a survey of the solo and ensemble repertoire. Juries and recitals of solo performances will be required. All applied studies for music majors include a weekly one-hour individual lesson and two-hour studio lab.
Prerequisite: MUS 661
Corequisite: MUS 501, MUS 502, MUS 503, MUS 504 or departmental permission - This course is the third level of a four-semester sequence in woodwind performance skills. In this course students will study their woodwind instrument of specialty. Concepts and skills covered in the class include techniques of tone production, technical facility, and a survey of the solo and ensemble repertoire. Juries and recitals of solo performances will be required. All applied studies for music majors include a weekly one-hour individual lesson and two-hour studio lab.
Prerequisite: MUS 662
Corequisite: MUS 501, MUS 502, MUS 503, MUS 504 or departmental permission
Research and Projects
Publications
A Rhythmic Study of Trios for Violin, Clarinet, and Piano (2006)
