Portland State Magazine Fall 2007

Chan has a mission of taking her music-and that of her students– beyond the classroom and concert halls to people confined to nursing homes, retirement homes, and hospitals. It's a tradition she began during her studies at Yale, when she signed up for extracurricular, moneymaking gigs. Yale's music school called, asking if she would like to play at a Jewish hospice. "I didn't know what a hospice was," recalls Chan. "It really surprised me to see the patients and their condition. They were wheeled out in beds and placed near the piano. I just played. They couldn't respond by clapping, but I knew they could feel the music. After the concert I talked to one of the staff who brought me to the bed of one of the patients who was in the last stages of her life, and she managed to tell me how much she appreciated the music. It was very special, very powerful, and a little scary at the same time." PLAYING FOR PATIENTS made such a huge impression on Chan that she decided to get her students interest– ed. She incorporated it into her teaching regimen at Washington State University and, since fall 2004, has challenged her students at Portland State to follow the same path. A community engagement grant from the College Music Society, a nonprofit consortium of music scholars, perform– ers, and professors, helps cover the costs of playing at nursing homes and hospitals, including a recital Chan gave in the lobby of Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland. "Two of the little girls were danc– ing and spinning around while Susan played," says Jennifer Payne, volunteer resources manager at Doernbecher. "This is a good way to take their minds off the fact that they are in a hospital,and many kids are here for a long time. The minimum stay for bone marrow transplant is 52 days." Chan also plays at the Chapel of Mary's Woods, a retirement community near Marylhurst University. "We had 100 people at her last concert," says Hank Knowlen, activi– ties director at Mary's Woods. Residents unable to see it in person, watched it on televisions in their rooms." The residents also enjoy concerts by Chan's students, such as Jeff Baxter, a 35-year-old pianist, who recently gradu– ated from PSU with a bachelor's degree in music and linguistics. "I found the experience of playing at nursing and retirement homes refresh– ing and unique," remarks Baxter. "It TO HEAR PROFESSOR SUSAN CHAN, visit her homepage at web.pdx.edul~chanss/home.html. She is scheduled to play on campus October 21 at 4 p.m. in 175 Lincoln Hall during an all-Steinway concert featuring piano faculty and students. She will also give a noontime concert on January 24 in 75 Lincoln Hall. See the PSU calendar at www.pdx.edu/eventsl for details. 10 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE FALL 2007 was great to apply what I've learned in a different role-not in a regular concert setting. Lots of folks talked to me after– wards and asked how many hours I practice and my musical background." 0 VER TH E UPCOM ING year, Chan would like to collaborate more with other musicians in concert performances as well as playing for those who cannot get to the concert hall. "It takes me out of the routine of the University and brings me closer to those in need," says Chan. "I think of it as piano music for the soul." ■ James Bash, a Portlandfreelance writer, wrote the article "Opera without Subtitles" far thefall 2004 Portland State Magazine.