Thanks to music, Nina Lecocq is able to travel and encounter people she could never have imagined. In the Master of Arts in Music Performance – Specialization in Instrumental/Vocal Performance, Nina studied in Barcelona during the spring semester 2023.
ZHdK International Dossier: How did you choose the university for your exchange semester?
Nina Lecocq: I chose the ESMUC (Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya) because I wanted to study “Recorder” with Pedro Memelsdorff and “Early Percussion” with Pedro Estevan, to learn more about the medieval and renaissance repertoire.
What has been the biggest challenge of your semester abroad?
Self-discipline and finding a good balance. I only had recorder lessons once a month, which made me change the way of preparing my lessons. I worked more on my personal projects, which was great. In return, it was more difficult to practise consistently on my instrument.
What is your favorite learning so far?
Learning to take things as they come and to live in the moment.
What is your motivation for continuing your education?
The experience of cultural and social enrichment. Learning, meeting new people, exchanging ideas, sharing experiences. Art institutes provide all these opportunities. The ZHDK is one of the best examples since it offers the highest level of support for multicultural and transdisciplinary exchange.
Do we need art? And if so, why?
From a pragmatic point of view, art is perhaps not as important for our physical survival as other professions. However, the whole world is made of art: nature, the many cultures and traditions, the connections with each other. We could not live without that. And yet our increasingly urban lifestyle is causing us to lose touch with nature. This seems to make creating art even more important to me. Not only because it contributes to our spiritual and emotional well-being or because it is essential for our development as human beings, but it enables us to express emotions and connect with others. Last but not least, we get to know ourselves through art.
I really like Plato's phrase that if you wish to know about a people, you must know their music.