Sayla Community Highlight: Phoebe Dupa
Interviewed and written by Elizabeth Chan
10/21/21
Phoebe is an avid violin student studying under Vasi Klinker, here at Sayla Music Academy. She is a passionate and talented multi-instrumentalist that has been involved in many Sayla events and groups, such as the Grand Recital, Sayla Community Orchestra, and Sayla Chamber Groups. Read more about her and her musical journey below!
What is your name?
Phoebe Kaye Dupa
How old are you?
17
What instrument(s) do you play?
I play the violin, but I also know how to play the piano, guitar, and ukulele!
How long have you been taking lessons? How long have you been at Sayla and who is your current teacher?
I’ve been taking lessons at Sayla for about 6 or 7 years and my current teacher is Vasi Klinker.
What is your favorite part of playing, practicing, or performing music?
My favorite part is that when I look for a new song to practice and play, I always discover something new. I might find something like a new favorite song, a new genre that I enjoy or I might learn how to do something new that I like.
What is a favorite memory of yours surrounding music?
I’ve always liked performing at a bunch of different places and my favorite place to have performed would have been either around Downtown Lodi or at Disneyland. Disneyland was very fun for obvious reasons and I liked playing in Downtown Lodi because the songs we were playing were pretty fun and people hearing the music would have enjoyed it.
What is a hurdle or obstacle you have had to face while learning music?
It was hard when I started playing violin because it was so different from other instruments that I knew how to play. Violins don’t have anything like frets so I had to learn how to listen to the notes more carefully and learn where to place my fingers so that I could play more in tune. After a while, it did become easier to recognize when notes were in tune and it’s easier for me to figure out how I can play notes.
What advice would you give to someone who is just starting lessons?
One really important thing to have is patience when you are playing music. It takes time to build up your skill so it's fine if you’re not playing songs by your favorite musician right away. You should also try to be patient and not get too frustrated if you’re practicing something new and it just doesn’t seem right. Being upset at the mistake can put you in a bad mindset and it won’t help you improve. Also, they’re not kidding when they say scales are important.
Besides music, what do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I’m usually watching Youtube or Tiktok. I usually like watching TV shows as well and I just finished watching Squid Game and On My Block. I also like to play video games and I enjoy reading.