Interview with graduate Sophie Yera
Long time student Sophie Yera graduated in 2021–fortunately we got a chance to say goodbye in-person as teacher and student. I couldn’t be more excited for Sophie’s future–she is an immensely creative, intelligent, and passionate young adult who is bound to do great things. During the pandemic she produced two EPs with original songs! You can check out her compositions and songwriting at her Linktree. I wanted to spend a moment with her to see if she had any words of wisdom for new students.
Sophie & Morgan at the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest where Sophie won 1st Place in 2016.
What are you up to now that you’ve graduated?
Now that I’ve graduated, I am attending NYU. Although I am in the College of Arts and Sciences as a political science major, I am working on transferring to Steinhardt for music production. I am also continuing my composition as I put out as much music as possible.
What role has music played in your life up until now?
Music has always played an important role in my life. I have played violin for many years now, as well as guitar. Music has always been there for me when I need to relax or create something entirely new. It gives me a creative outlet that many other activities don’t.
What would you tell a student, or family, who is just beginning to study violin/music?
I would tell a student or a family, who is just beginning their violin / music journey to not give up. There are so many times where it feels like you don’t want to continue, but it is important to stick to a routine of practice for growth and to be the best musician you can be.
What words of encouragement would you give to a student who feels stuck?
If a student feels stuck, I would tell them that it is okay to feel that way. It is important to realize if one is stuck and why they feel that way. It is also okay to take breaks, because sometimes it can get stressful.
What was your favorite piece to learn?
My favorite piece to learn was Marche Slav. I learned this piece when I was a sophomore in SAMOHI’s Philharmonic Orchestra. It was very difficult to learn, but it was a great challenge and although it was hard, it ended up being very fun.
What was something that used to be hard, but is now easy?
Something that used to be hard, but now is easy is learning the music at a relatively normal or fast pace. It used to take me so long to learn a piece, but after a lot of practice and years studying, it has become easier to learn pieces.
How will music be a part of your life after graduating high school?
Music will remain an important role in my life as I write more and produce more. My goal is to become a working musician, and because of this, it will always be part of my heart.
