Teacher Spotlight: Dr. Cloudia Huang, cello

Teacher Spotlight: Dr. Cloudia Huang, cello 
Interview by Erin Cano, violin 

Dr. Cloudia Huang  joined MIC as a Suzuki cello teacher in 2022.

What led you to become a Suzuki teacher?
I took traditional lessons as a child, and I was lucky that both of my parents were involved in my music training. My mom used to bring my younger brother with us and took the bus to attend my piano lessons, and my dad was the one in charge of my cello practices. He and I would listen to Bach cello suite recordings and make notes on my music. We would also listen to Mstislav Rostropovich playing the Haydn Concerto in C major on a LP record together. Music time with my mom and dad was a big part of my childhood memories and contributed to the foundation of learning music for me. I believe that the experience of being a Suzuki family creates memories that can be cherished.
As a mother, I would like my children to look at life in the manner that every child can learn if they put in the effort, and that it does not depend on their talent or intelligence. I have always liked being creative and doing something to give back to the community. Being a Suzuki teacher gives me opportunities to do both.

Which of your teachers inspired you the most? What aspects of their teaching have you integrated into your own style?
I have had many good teachers and mentors throughout the years. I am most grateful to study with Dr. Tanya Carey as she inspires me to become a teacher and a better musician. She is knowledgeable and always able to deliver her teachings in a fun, creative, and simple way. She brings the music to life by infusing it with stories that tie with the musical ideas, characters, phrases, bowings, and interpretation. Her teaching motivates students to learn. Her supportive and genuine nature breeds confidence in her students so they grow to become their own artists. I always find myself referencing back to these things.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I like to spend whatever free time I can carve out of the day with my family. We are a family of foodies that like to explore new places and spend time in our playroom hanging out or reading books. With our work and school schedules being so packed, sometimes we just enjoy a simple car ride together.
I recently started taking dance classes, and it has become a hobby that I can actually commit to. I have done some Chinese classical dance and a little bit of Latin and Hip Hop. Funny enough, there were numerous moments when I thought, “is this how my students feel when they are trying to learn cello from me?” as I try very hard to remember where I should put each body part during the routine. The experience of learning to dance gives me the opportunity to reflect on my teaching by taking the position of a student. Wait…are we still talking about what I do for my free time?

What’s on your listening list right now?
Cello music is always on my playlist. Currently, I am going through cello sonatas by Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, and Debussy as I am picking out a recital program. My husband and I just came back from our first trip without kids in six years to New Orleans, so I am listening to jazz music. It brings me back to standing on the corner of Royal Street in the French Quarter while the rain pours, listening to a jazz brass band play and sing Louis Armstrong.

What is your favorite Suzuki piece to teach?
It is hard to pick one favorite piece to teach. Whenever I teach and my student has that “aha” moment, the piece ends up becoming my favorite piece of the week. If I must pick one, maybe I would say “The Swan." Finishing Book 5 is a milestone for my students, and the first piece in Book 6, “The Swan”, is a piece that students and their parents recognize before they even started to take cello lessons. I feel the excitement, the sense of pride and reward from them when they reach this piece. Plus, it is a beautiful piece!