Interview Students

Interview Date: 2024.11.20
Interview Location: National Taiwan College of Performing
Interviewees:Interviewing students from the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts
Specialty: Traditional opera performance, editing, directing and creating

Four students explained the content of the questions in detail.

Four students explained the content of the questions in detail.

We learned about students’ study motivation and learning experience through the
interview.

We learned about students’ study motivation and learning experience through the interview.

1. What motivated you to apply for the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts?

Answer:  Since childhood, I have enjoyed performing, and my parents often took me to watch performances by troupes. As a result, I gradually developed an interest in performing arts. The reason I chose to attend the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts was that my father believed the school was a professional institution for cultivating performing arts talent, offering specialized training in performance, music, dance, and other areas, which he thought would be a perfect fit for me. I hope that after graduating, I can become a professional actor and join a troupe, allowing audiences to see my performances.

2. How do you balance your academic studies with learning opera?

Answer:  Balancing schoolwork with learning opera is indeed a challenge, so time management and planning are crucial. The teachers at the school initially helped us create a schedule, with fixed times each week for schoolwork and opera practice. Additionally, priorities are arranged based on importance; for example, more time is dedicated to academics before exams, while more time can be spent on opera practice when there are no exams. Through such planning, it helps us better manage our time and effectively balance academics with opera studies.

3. What joys do you find in learning opera performance?

Answer:  I believe the greatest enjoyment in learning opera lies in the continuous progress achieved through long-term practice. Seeing my improvement brings a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Moreover, successfully portraying a role in an opera performance and receiving applause and praise from the audience is the greatest form of recognition. Additionally, participating in opera performances often requires collaboration with other actors, allowing us to make friends while working together to deliver an outstanding performance to the audience. This is also one of the greatest joys of performing.

4. When facing challenges in academics or opera performance at school, how do the teachers assist you in resolving these issues?

Answer:  Teachers at the school are very concerned about our academics and performances. If there are any issues, they schedule one-on-one meetings with us to provide guidance and suggestions. The teachers offer further assistance and explanations on academic subjects that are difficult to fully understand. For performance challenges, they provide additional rehearsals and coaching to help improve our skills.

5. Do you plan to pursue further studies to deepen your expertise in opera and become a professional opera performer or director?

Answer:  Opera is a highly specialized performing art that requires continuous learning and research. Therefore, students usually choose to pursue further studies. In the future, in addition to aiming to become professional performers, we also hope to become experts in scriptwriting, directing, stage design, and other related fields. Hence, we will apply for related departments in specialized opera academies to continue further studies. These schools can offer professional courses and research opportunities related to opera, which will help us deepen our understanding of opera theory and performance techniques. If given the opportunity, we would also consider studying abroad to learn about different opera styles and production methods, broadening our horizons and enhancing our professional knowledge.

Reference:

Interview with students from the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts.

Image Sources:

Photos taken by the research team.

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