IML: First things first: What does Lang Lang mean in Chinese?

Lang Lang: It means “Brilliant Man.” When I was younger, I also had the nickname Liang, which means “bright.” Chinese parents always name their children very cute and positive names. Liang is kind of a play on Lang in Chinese.

IML: What is Shenyang like? What was it like to grow up in China?

Lang Lang: Shenyang is the fifth largest city in China, so it’s very cultured. Our family lived in a two-room apartment in a big building with lots of musicians and actors. It was a very lovely place to live because every family had an instrument and every child studied music. My father played the ehru, which is kind of like a two-stringed violin. But my favorite thing about Shenyang is the food. My favorite dishes are the big dumplings my mom makes and cabbage, which is kind of like sauerkraut, mixed with meat and seafood. I get so hungry just thinking about it!

IML: What did you and your friends do for fun back then?

Lang Lang: We watched cartoons, like Tom and Jerry. We also went to the park, played soccer, and ping pong. Ping pong is a very popular game in China.

IML: What was your life like when you were twelve?

Lang Lang: I had a slightly different life than other school kids. When I was nine, in fifth grade, I moved to Beijing (China’s capital) to go to the Central Conservatory of Music. I woke up every day at 5:00 am to practice piano for an hour. Then I went to school until 3:00 pm, came home, practiced piano some more, and then did homework in the evening. I practiced piano five hours a day! But I still managed to have fun. We had ten minute breaks between our classes at school, and that’s when we would play games, tell jokes, and have fun.

IML: How do you think growing up in China is different than growing up in America?

Lang Lang: I think Chinese kids are under more pressure than American kids in school. Like pre-schoolers and first graders in China already have a lot of homework. They have to get up very early for school and they stay longer.

IML: What was it like moving to America as a teenager?

Lang Lang: At first I didn’t speak any English and that was a big problem. But then I made lots of friends and immediately started learning. I don’t think it’s that hard for kids to move to America from other countries, because America has this openness toward kids. When you’re young it’s very easy adapt to a different culture.

IML: What is something you'll never forget about your childhood?

Lang Lang: When I came to study in Beijing, I had a teacher who didn’t like me and she kicked me out of her class. This really bothered me, but in the long run I found that it was better. We wouldn’t have worked well together and she would have been a poor mentor for me. It made me work harder and I found a better mentor. That experience taught me that it’s important to find the right teacher or mentor who will help you the best.

IML: Is there a teacher who had a really big influence on you?

Lang Lang: Yes! My first grade teacher, Miss Feng. She taught Culture: Chinese literature, math and writing. And she helped me get over my shyness. I was never shy when I played piano, but I was very shy in person. She helped me to speak up and make friends. I still see her whenever I visit Shenyang!

IML: What was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you in school?

Lang Lang: One time, a teacher was reading a book to the class and the story was very sad. It was so sad that I began to cry loudly in front of everyone! All the other kids noticed and laughed at me. Even the teacher! It was very embarrassing!! I wished I could dig a hole and jump into it.

IML: What made you want to start playing piano?

Lang Lang: When I was two, I was watching a Tom and Jerry cartoon. I thought it was so funny to see this cat and mouse chasing each other to this song, Hungarian Rhapsody #2. I got very inspired by the music, so I tried to play it on the piano…and it turned out I could play it! My parents heard me and I started taking lessons. And really it went very quick from there because by age five I won my first competition.

IML: Why did you choose to study classical music?

Lang Lang: At the time, we didn’t have a lot of pop music in China. This was 1984, so what was popular at the time was Chinese folk music. I was inspired by the cartoons and that’s what I liked to play. I didn’t really know there was other kinds of music!

IML: What do you like best about classical music?

Lang Lang: I think, first of all, classical music can last. If a piece continues to be played again and again for so many years, I think it has lasting value. Also, classical music is very challenging to play. You can play the same piece every day and continue getting better at it.

IML: What other kinds of music do you like?

Lang Lang: I also like rock and pop. Eminem is one of my favorites. And I like Norah Jones -- she has a beautiful voice. In China, I did a crossover recording with Chinese pop singer Hacken Lee in 2003. That song became the top song of the year!

IML: What do you say to kids who think that classical music is just for adults?

Lang Lang: They should think again! Classical music can be so moving and lyrical and have beautiful melodies and happy, fun moods. Check out a Puccini opera or Mozart or start with a Tchaikovsky ballet, like “The Nutcracker.” You can’t help but get hooked and want to hear more. Many symphonies and orchestras put on special concerts just for kids.

IML: When you were younger, how did you make time for practice and balance your piano with school, friends, etc.?

Lang Lang: My schedule for school and practice was pretty much set. But the good thing about that was that all my friends had exactly the same schedule. So after practice in the afternoon, I would run out to meet my friends. This is when we’d go and do normal kid stuff: get together to watch cartoons, go to the park and play ping pong or soccer. The time for playing was a little bit shorter than normal kids, but we still made time for it.

IML: Do you ever get nervous performing in front of so many people?

Lang Lang: I actually never get nervous in front of an audience. I get really excited! Even that first recital when I was five, I remember I was just so excited to go out and play. I think if you just go onstage and be yourself and do the best you can, you naturally lose that nervousness.

IML: Why do you think sticking to your dreams is so important?

Lang Lang: It’s important to have goals and to stick to them and to work hard. Being a concert pianist was a dream of mine since early childhood. But I have always loved to play music. I still love to play. It’s important to do something you love. That isn’t to say I don’t need to take breaks sometimes. It’s natural to get bored, so you take a short break -- go outside, read a book, do a hobby. Then you’ll come back to it with a fresh new approach. But don’t stay away too long…Always keep reaching for the goal!

IML: Who was your role model growing up?

Lang Lang: Musically, it was Vladimir Horowitz, who was the greatest pianist of the last century, and also another pianist, Arthur Rubinstein. My personal role model was Michael Jordan. And then when I came to America, it was Tiger Woods, too. Both Jordan and Woods have such great discipline and they’re not only athletes, they’re artists. It’s amazing to watch them play because they’re both so natural, dedicated, and talented.

IML: What kind of sports do you do in your spare time? What do you get out of them?

Lang Lang: I play ping pong almost every day. I’ll take a break, turn on some music or TV, and play ping pong. It’s a great way to relax and de-stress.

IML: How do you cheer yourself up when you're feeling really down or angry?

Lang Lang: I call my friends. If they aren’t around to talk to, I get my CD player and my favorite CDs and go for a run or walk in the park. And then I go and have a good meal. That usually cheers me up!

IML: That sounds like great advice! Thank you for talking to us, and good luck on your tour.

Lang Lang: Thank you! I have a website, www.langlang.com, where you can listen to my music and write to me. Many kids write and ask advice about playing piano. I love to talk to them when I have time!

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