Chin Cheng Lin's Musical World Tour

Some musicians chase competitions. I… accidentally stumbled into them sometimes while eating instant noodles. In this episode, I share my unexpected encounters with international music competitions: the surprise nominations, the last-minute preparations, and the “how-did-I-get-here” moments. With my remixed version of “Maple Leaf Rag,” let’s talk about the weird, stressful, and occasionally hilari...

What’s an artist-in-residence? Basically, it’s a way to **legalize your creative brainwaves **with a proposal, a plan, and maybe a dash of guts. In this episode, I share how I crafted my residency application: planting artistic ideas inside a music institution (without actually trying to take over the orchestra!). Accompanied by my solo piano version of “Milk,” this is about turning imagination in...

How did playing the marimba lead me… to a medical school? In this episode, I share the unbelievable but true story of my collaboration with a neuroscience team where music met rehabilitation, and rhythm became a research tool. From analyzing muscle movement in percussion to designing tempo-based therapy exercises, this journey blurred the lines between stage and lab. Set to my piece “Milk 2,” come...

When I started practicing Tai Chi and Qigong, I never expected music to be the thing that resonated most. In this episode, I explore the surprising connection between marimba and movement, between breath and rhythm, between presence and sound. Percussion isn’t just about striking; sometimes it’s about letting go. With my solo piano version of “Cafe without Sugar,” join me in discovering how stilln...

I’m not some world-famous researcher, but I made a quiet promise to myself: one small music analysis paper every year, like a love letter to music. In this episode, I share my secret to maintaining a long-term creative relationship: how to stay inspired, how to keep going even when life gets in the way, and how one little paper can remind you why you fell in love with music in the first place. Acc...

Form analysis sounds serious until you treat it like a game. In this episode, I talk about my weirdly fun journey with musical form: from casually dissecting cartoon soundtracks as a kid to wrestling with academic theories as an adult. Somewhere along the way, I discovered a magical method of learning by playful classification. Set to my composition “Noriyoune,” this is a celebration of thinking w...

“So… you’re getting a doctorate? In art?” I’ve heard that question more times than I can count. In this episode, I explore the winding path of pursuing a doctoral degree in music—DMA vs. PhD, research vs. performance, idealism vs. reality. Some do it for the title, some to save the world (maybe?), and some like me, just try to survive the confusion. Set to my piece “Shadow of Water,” this is a ref...

In Antwerp—the city of diamonds, I entered a music education program that wasn’t about dazzling performance, but something subtler. This episode explores my time training to be a music educator, navigating the tension between artistic freedom and structured teaching. Sometimes, you think you’re shining… but maybe you’re just being polished. Set to my composition “Wind,” join me at the edge where s...

In Croatia, percussion is not just music, it’s full-blown theatre. Every beat feels like a line in a dramatic play. In this episode, I share my unforgettable experience studying in Croatia, where intense technique meets even more intense performance style. Facial expressions? Choreography? It was all part of the show. Set to my piece “Jeju Fantasy,” let’s travel between Balkan fire and Korean fant...

Paris: the city of perfume and art or, in my case, the land of overly “scented” tones. During my exchange at a French conservatory, I encountered a sonic culture so refined and polished, it almost felt like playing perfume rather than percussion. In this episode, I unpack the elegant (and sometimes hilariously extreme) musical aesthetics of Paris. Set to my piece “Thor,” it’s a mix of thunder, tas...

The year I arrived in Belgium, I somehow found myself in a "Belgian conservatory in Amsterdam?" where people spoke something called… “Fransice”? Not French, not Dutch, not quite English either. This episode dives into my early days in Belgium—linguistic confusion, cultural misfires, and the weirdly magical feeling of being completely lost in a European maze. With my piece “Magic” as the backdrop,...

My first concert tour in Australia was full of things I couldn’t understand: the Aussie English, the abstract contemporary music, and… what I was even doing there. But maybe that’s what made it magical. In this episode, I take you into a surreal memory of desert skies, strange scores, and unexpected miracles. With my piece “Flying V” in the background, come fly with me through confusion, culture s...

It was just a tiny practice room cramped, dusty, barely enough space for the instruments. But that little room changed everything. In this episode, I share the story of how I switched from piano to percussion, and how that simple decision in a forgotten corner of the school opened up an entire world for me. Set to my piece “April Sky,” this is about small spaces, big dreams, and finding your true...

While most students skipped class to nap or hang out, I did it to sneak into a basement and practice percussion. This episode dives into one of my most rebellious and oddly wholesome chapters of musical youth. Practicing in secret, away from teachers and expectations, I found freedom in rhythm and rebellion in every beat. Paired with my piece “Angels & Demons,” this is the story of a quiet rev...

Everyone makes musical mistakes… but have you ever drowned a saxophone—literally? In this episode, I share a hilariously chaotic memory of trying (and failing) to learn the saxophone. Caught between bad choices, bad weather, and bad embouchure, this windy regret turned out to be one of the most vivid lessons of my musical life. Music: Bach’s Cello Suite No.1, this is a story of noise, mess, and th...

Ever felt the urge to bang on the piano—just for the fun of it? This episode dives into those childhood moments when music wasn’t about rules or perfection, but about joy, curiosity, and maybe a little mischief. Improvising nonsense, ignoring sheet music, and simply playing what felt good—this chaotic fun surprisingly became the seed of my composing life. Set to my piece Wind2 from my “EP: Wind, L...

Do you remember your very first violin lesson? I do—aching arms, wrong notes, and that unmistakable chicken-screech sound only beginners can produce. In this episode, I look back on my short but memorable "love affair" with the violin. Though we didn’t end up together, that noisy journey unexpectedly opened the door to an entirely new world. Accompanied by my piece “Back to the time,” let’s revisi...

Do you remember the very first time you were legally allowed to touch a musical instrument? In this episode, I revisit my awkward yet hilarious memories in elementary school’s music classroom—confusing flute with violin, eyeing the massive timpani in the corner, and stumbling into a life of music without even realizing it. Paired with my composition “Childhood Memory,” this is a nostalgic trip to...

Have you ever stepped into something, only to realize later—there’s no turning back? In this first episode, I take you back to that pivotal moment when I accidentally fell into the world of music. It wasn’t some glorious beginning. It was more like a clumsy slide into a path I never meant to take… but never managed to leave. Accompanied by my original piece “Wind 2,” let’s revisit the very start o...

🎧 Welcome to Episode 1 of Chin-Cheng Lin’s Musical World Tour! This is a lighthearted podcast about music, learning, travel, meltdowns, and life. In this episode, I’ll introduce the background of this podcast, my own story, and what you can expect in future episodes. Sometimes funny, sometimes deep (just a little bit, I promise). 📣 Feel free to leave a comment and share your own story — let’s tr...