Celloist Nathan Chen finds the balance between practice time and the rest of his school work.
Nathan Chen
Name: Nathan Chen
Grade: 10th Grade
Instrument: Cello
Future College: UT Austin
Future Job: I’m not sure yet, but if I had to choose one I would probably be a marketer
Years in Orchestra: 4
Inspiration: I get inspired by musicians and my friends and teachers to play orchestra. I also got inspired by previously playing the piano, which inspired me to continue playing music.
Favorite Musician: Orchestra wise Musicians would be Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Wingspan: What made you choose your instrument?
Chen: “What made me choose my instrument was the size of my instrument. The cello isn’t something too small nor too big, and I also chose it because of my experience with the bass clef which is the clef the cello plays on, and overall I really like the deep sound of the cello.”
Wingspan: What made you want to choose to do orchestra?
Chen: “What made me choose orchestra was my previous experience with the Piano. I wanted to continue doing something that was still music related, so I decided to do orchestra.”
Wingspan: How does orchestra impact your daily life?
Chen: “Orchestra impacts my daily life as I have to practice, or whenever I see music somewhere such as music playing, I can usually tell what instruments are playing because of my experience in orchestra, and it impacts my life as it also improves my coordination which is something you improve on as you play instruments.”
Wingspan: Are you considering continuing orchestra beyond? Why?
Chen: “For now, I am not planning to continue orchestra beyond, because as much as I love music, I really do think right now that music is just a hobby and you know something I can do something on the side compared to doing it beyond.”
Wingspan: What are your personal goals for this year?
Chen: “My personal goal this year is to stop procrastinating, I really have a super bad habit doing things last minute, and always stressing out. I also want to make a schedule and overall get better at doing things at certain times.”
Wingspan: What is your favorite thing about orchestra?
Chen: “My favorite thing about orchestra is the new friendships and experiences you form when you join. I have met so many people just from orchestra along and it’s also a super fun and enjoyable way to spend time during school.”
Wingspan: How do you balance orchestra, school, and any other extracurriculars?
Chen: “I balance orchestra, school and other extracurricular by just taking it easy, planning things right, and making sure you have the perfect balance between everything. I usually do things weeks ahead when it is supposed to do, and I balance other extra curricular by setting times out of my day just to do that certain thing.”
Wingspan: What’s your favorite memory of the orchestra?
Chen: “My favorite memory of orchestra was when this super mean teacher came into my classroom in middle school and started hitting people with a bow. She also hit me in the head with a bow but it was a pretty funny experience. Another are the friendships I made. As much as you know playing is fun, the people you meet within the orchestra can really make a difference.”
Wingspan: What is your advice to anybody thinking about joining an orchestra?
Chen: “My advice to anybody who is looking to join orchestra is that you should firstly know how to play an orchestra instrument, because there is no beginner class and you have to know what to play. My second advice to anybody who is looking to join orchestra is that you should know how much time you are gonna commit to orchestra, as since it is an elective and it is a fine art you will have to commit time to practice, go to socials, and you know be prepared to spend some time in orchestra.”
Wingspan: If you had to pick a different instrument to play what would it be?
Chen: “I would play the bass or trumpet.”
Is Israel’s democracy backsliding?
Chatham House, CC BY 2.0
Although Israel has been regarded as the only democracy in the Middle East, recent judicial reforms proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have raised concerns about the country’s democracy. (Pictured: Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel)
Israel has long been regarded as the only democracy in the Middle East. However, recent judicial reforms proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have raised concerns about the country’s democratic credentials. Some experts are now questioning whether Israel is backsliding from its democratic ideals.
The proposed judicial reforms in question would grant the government greater control over the appointment of judges and reduce the power of the Supreme Court. Critics argue that these changes would weaken the independence of the judiciary, which is a cornerstone of any functioning democracy.
Netanyahu and his supporters argue that the reforms are necessary to address what they see as an overreaching judiciary that has hamstrung the government’s ability to make policy. They claim that the reforms will restore balance to the relationship between the executive and judicial branches of government.
However, many Israelis, including members of the legal community, view the reforms as an attempt by Netanyahu to consolidate power and undermine the rule of law. There are concerns that the reforms could lead to a politicization of the judiciary, with judges appointed based on their ideological leanings rather than their qualifications.
The United States, often regarded as the modern-day hub of democracy, has been closely watching the situation in Israel. The U.S. has historically been a strong supporter of Israel, and the two countries share a commitment to democratic values. However, the U.S. has also faced its own challenges to its democratic institutions in recent years.
The storming of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump in January 2021 highlighted the fragility of American democracy. The attack on the Capitol was an unprecedented assault on the institutions of American democracy, and it served as a wake-up call for many Americans.
Like Israel, the U.S. has a strong tradition of an independent judiciary that serves as a check on executive power. However, the Trump administration was often at odds with the judiciary, with the former president frequently criticizing judges who ruled against him.
The situation in Israel serves as a reminder that democracy is not a given, and that it requires constant vigilance and protection. The U.S. and other democracies around the world must remain committed to defending democratic values and institutions, both at home and abroad.
In the case of Israel, the proposed judicial reforms must be carefully considered to ensure that they do not undermine the country’s democratic ideals. The independence of the judiciary is a fundamental principle of democracy, and any changes that threaten this independence must be met with scrutiny and opposition. It is clear that Israeli citizens will not stand for democratic values being undermined, so any reform should be executed in a way that aligns with democracy.