We are forever grateful to Arlene for instilling important fundamentals in our music career. Because her classes felt like family gatherings, sometimes accompanied by her beloved dog, we enjoyed learning and were truly invested in honing our musicianship.
As part of the non-keyboard group, I remember her extra encouragement and advice. She ensured that both keyboard and non-keyboard players have different sets of challenges. I remember vividly once when each of us had to perform solo in front of the class. This was definitely daunting for a non-pianist. After I performed a few measures of Mozart, she smiled and said, “Kangyi practices really hard!”
Arlene’s musical legacy lives on in all her students. I will always remember her smile – From my freshman year in 2006 to the Brown Reunion in 2015.
Grieving deeply,
Kangyi Zhang
Student of Arlene in freshman and sophomore years. Class of 2010.
