New May Store Update - Celebrating AAPI Voices!
Happy May! This month, the Practice Space store is proud to honor Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month by celebrating the incredible contributions of AAPI composers to the world of music. From the cinematic masterpieces of Japan to the royal melodic legacy of Hawaiʻi, this month’s featured composers exemplify power in unity, demonstrating how diverse voices and stories strengthen our global musical community.
Each of these new composer avatars can be redeemed in our store using Practice Gems, which students earn by reaching their daily practice goals. This system is designed to fuse motivation with a well-rounded education, encouraging students to not only master their instruments but also to discover the visionary artists behind the notes.
To help bring these stories to life in your studio or classroom, we’ve prepared a May Activities Packet filled with engaging composer profiles, fun facts, and interactive quizzes. We’ve also included YouTube links below for each composer, allowing students to hear everything from epic video game soundtracks to traditional Hawaiian melodies firsthand. Each avatar also comes with unique, inspiring quotes, giving students a direct window into the creative processes of these modern and historical legends.
Explore the new avatars this May and join us in celebrating the heritage that continues to shape the sound of our world.
Joe Hisaishi - A Japanese legend, Hisaishi is the musical heart of Studio Ghibli. His style blends minimalist beauty with sweeping orchestral melodies for films like Spirited Away.
Facts in app:
His stage name is a Japanese play on the name of American producer Quincy Jones.
He has won the Japanese Academy Award for Best Music eight times.
He is a virtuoso pianist who often conducts his film scores from the keyboard.
He composed the official theme music for the 1998 Winter Paralympics.
Watch this performance of Merry-Go-Round of Life!
Joe Hisaishi - Merry-Go-Round of Life (from “Howl’s Moving Castle”)
Queen Liliʻuokalani - The last reigning monarch of Hawaiʻi, she was a gifted composer who wrote over 160 songs to preserve her nation’s culture and heritage.
Facts in app:
She wrote Aloha ʻOe, the most famous Hawaiian song known worldwide.
She was a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, piano, organ, and ukulele.
She composed many of her most famous works while under house arrest.
Her music fused traditional Hawaiian chants with Western 19th-century harmonies.
Watch this performance of Aloha ‘Oe:
"Aloha 'Oe" by Henry Kapono, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (Bruddah Iz), Cyril Pahinui, Roland Cazimero
Christopher Tin - A double-Grammy winner, Tin is famous for epic choral works. He made history by bringing "crossover" classical music to video games and global stages.
Facts in app:
His song Baba Yetu was the first video game theme to win a Grammy.
He often writes lyrics in rare or extinct languages like Sanskrit and Old Norse.
His debut album features songs performed in twelve different languages.
He has composed for everything from major films to the Dubai Fountain.
Listen to Astronomy:
Christopher Tin - Astronomy (Score Animation) feat. The Assembly
Viet Cuong - A rising star in contemporary music, Cuong is known for his "wildly inventive" works that turn unexpected objects into incredible orchestral sounds.
Facts in app:
He has written pieces that feature soloists playing tuned wine glasses.
His music often uses rhythmic clapping and snapping as part of the score.
He is currently the Young American Composer-in-Residence with the California Symphony.
He is celebrated for his "quirky" style that reimagines traditional wind instruments.
Watch this performance of Pulse Train:
Viet Cuong: Pulse Train at Asia Society Texas Center (ROCO)
Angel Lam - A Grammy-nominated composer and storyteller, Lam’s music bridges Eastern and Western traditions using ancient legends and personal memories.
Facts in app:
She was a featured composer for Yo-Yo Ma’s famous Silk Road Project.
She often writes her own stories and poems to accompany her music.
Carnegie Hall commissioned her to write for their prestigious training workshops.
Her work is known for "ethereal" textures that sound like magical landscapes.
Watch this performance of Little Snow.
Jitsupa Petchmark - Little Snow (Angel Lam)
Background Update
Some other fun additions
These all cheer the student on but also talk about tempo and other musical terms!
