Kish works with a student at Capital Normal University on his conducting skills.

David Kish never imagined that he would be standing within the immaculate walls of Beijing’s Forbidden City, the home to the emperor for over five centuries, with his own private tour guide and interpreter.

The assistant professor of music recently spent a week in Beijing teaching conducting lessons and working with bands at Capital Normal University. He was invited to practice with the university’s wind ensemble and No. 66 middle school band.

“The bands are in their infancy in China. They’re very young in the sense that band has not always been a part of traditional curriculum,” Kish says. He provided a new view of music and conducting to both the students and the professors at the university. He also contributed ideas to help develop band into regular curriculum at the schools in China.

“Professionally it was very rewarding to contribute to those bands. I felt very needed because they wanted my expertise on how to make the band better – better balance, better blend and fundamentals – and they were very gracious and accepting of those new ideas,” he says.

Despite the purpose of the trip, Kish says that he had a lot to learn from the Chinese as well. “They displayed quite a bit of musical ideas in their conducting – almost to the point where it was too much and so that’s something that I think our students would be able to do better – could emulate, be able to show musical expression when they are conducting,” he says.

The Metro State professor of four years spends his time directing the wind ensemble and symphonic bands and teaches conducting and music education courses. He also served as a band director at the University of Georgia. All together, Kish has more than 10 years of conducting experience.

“I enjoy preparing future teachers and I enjoy seeing the growth that happens musically as people develop. It’s very exciting to watch students mature both as musicians and as future teachers,” he says. “The best way to teach someone how to teach is to teach as well as I possibly can by modeling.”

Kish’s lifelong passion for music began at the age of 12 when his band director recommended that he play the trombone. He received his bachelor’s degree in music from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania and his master’s and doctorate from the University of North Carolina in education and conducting. His family has supported him every step along the way.

Kish’s mother, who dreamed of becoming a music teacher, played the piano. She went into the workforce instead of going to college because she could not afford it. “She never told me that until I was already a music teacher. So for her, I think in a way, I was living out her dream of being a music teacher,” he says.

“You must pursue your love… you must pursue what’s going to make you happy in life and the rest will take care of its self,” Kish says. “I feel fortunate to be doing what I love doing which is practicing music, playing music and performing music and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”