An international teaching lineage came back home in January at SFCM, when Scott Pingel welcomed alumni Tian Yang Liu, who graduated in 2013, back to his studio—this time, as a teacher.

Scott Pingel's double bass studio.

“It was such a joy to have my former student Tianyang Liu back on campus to give a masterclass,” Pingel said. “As a teacher, it is a great blessing to see students grow and develop not only in their time in school, but also in their life and work after they leave, and it has been a delight to see the success Tian has enjoyed already in his career.”

Tian Yang Liu with Alexandria Kelley.

Liu worked with students with excerpts, and, in student Alexandria Kelley’s case, demonstrated an exercise he learned from a cellist to help with bowing hand technique.

Tian Yang Liu with Alexandria Kelley.

Tian Yang Liu with Alexandria Kelley.

“Tian Yang Liu had some really great suggestions for me that helped work out some bowing issues I was having with Bach for an upcoming audition,” Kelley said. “I love meeting Professor Pingel’s former students because you really get to see where the personality of the individual musician and the seasoned guidance meet. Of course, it also means the world to see just how far you can go after SFCM!”

Pingel has kept up with his student’s career as it’s progressed. “From being the first bassist at SFCM to ever win the concerto competition, to winning the grand prize at the International Society of Bassists solo competition, to obtaining the assistant principal bass position in the Houston Ballet, to becoming professor of bass at Beijing Central Conservatory, Tian’s trajectory has been exceptional,” he said. “I am very proud of him and grateful to have spent some very fruitful years working together at SFCM.”

Learn more about studying double bass at SFCM.