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Both music and children play a big part in Darin Au's livelihood. Guitar students take
stage for HTYDarin Au's concert menu ranges
from Vivaldi to Sting to ColtraneBy Gary C. W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.comNot only does he teach guitar to students as young as 5, Au has also written music for several Honolulu Theatre for Youth productions.
He will be bringing the two together at tomorrow's benefit for the longstanding children's theater group, featuring his students in small guitar ensembles, playing a repertoire that ranges from Vivaldi to traditional Spanish guitar music to classical arrangements of rock favorites.
"The students have performed in public before," he said, "doing recitals at bookstores and shopping malls, but this is the first time they'll be playing in a concert setting in this benefit for HTY.
"I've been thinking about doing something along these lines, giving back to the community, and I chose HTY because it's both a children-focused organization and also one that has been good to me."
Cynthia See, a friend of Au's and HTY regular, originally asked him "out of the blue" to do music for some of HTY's productions. Drawing on his experience scoring some dance productions after college, Au contributed music for "Lily's Purple Plastic Purse," "The Peacemaker" and "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie."
A 1990 Punahou grad, Au went to the University of North Texas to get his Masters in Music Composition. But Au always wanted to return home, and, after getting married, placed newspaper ads that offered his services as a music teacher. He started 7th Fret Guitar Studios in June 1996, and is also a part-time instructor at Punahou's music department, leading classes in music technology and music theory, as well as teaching guitar to students at Sacred Hearts Academy.
"I've always felt that teaching came easy for me," he said. While playing in both the Punahou band and orchestra, he would also help his dad coach football and basketball in the Manoa Youth Recreation leagues.
"Some of my students have been playing in my classes since the very beginning," he said. "I certainly couldn't have done all of this without both their help and their parents."
Tomorrow's benefit concert will showcase a select number of Au's students, ranging in age from 10 to 17, and featured in three acoustic guitar ensembles and one electric ensemble.
Through his years of instruction, Au said, "I've learned more about the development of children than the development of guitar players. It's been interesting to see how some of these kids have grown over the years; some have gone on to college after being with me since the age of 5 -- going from being totally reliant on their parents, to learning to drive, dating and then applying for college.
"One thing that I learned about music when I was younger was my mom telling me that the cool thing about music is that there is always more to learn. With my own students, learning music doesn't end when you've either mastered note reading or playing chords. I want their learning to stay with them as long as it can, and to be self-sufficient.
"My goal for them is to play guitar for the rest of their lives, whether it's just on a couch at home for themselves, at family parties or in a semi-professional or professional capacity."
Because Au emphasizes formal techniques such as note reading, improvisation, chords and ensemble playing in his teaching, "most of my students are better trained than your average, hobbyist guitar player."
And tomorrow's audience will hear them play concert arrangements ranging from Sting/The Police's "King of Pain" to the rapid-fire country riffing of the "King of the Hill" television theme song.
Some of Au's original compositions will be played as well. "Chasing Dragons" will be one of the ensemble pieces, and Au will join HTY artistic director Mark Lutwak in a series of guitar and accordion duets, playing both originals and obscure pieces like John Coltrane's "Spiritual" and "Waltz of the Recently Punished Catholic School Boys" by contemporary composer Philip Johnston.
Au hopes that he can take some of his students out on a small tour of the neighbor islands and maybe even California sometime next year.
7th Fret Guitar Studios Benefit for HTY
Where: The Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahou St.When: 7 p.m. tomorrow
Admission: $7
Call: 988-7074
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