Acclaimed pianist hits every key with concerts and online series

For Tian Jiaxin, the piano has never been just an instrument, but a storyteller, a traveling companion and, as she describes it, something akin to a magic wand.

"When I started learning piano, it felt like Harry Potter's wand," Tian says with a laugh.

"Through music, I could become different characters and tell all kinds of stories."

Now, the Chinese pianist is preparing to tell new stories through her upcoming nationwide concert tour, Xin Music Journey, which will visit eight Chinese cities, including Beijing, and Guangdong province's Shenzhen and Foshan, from July to October.

The tour was officially unveiled in Beijing on June 5, alongside the launch of a documentary-style online series, Following the Music on a Journey, which creates an innovative format that combines live performance, cultural tourism and digital storytelling.

Unlike a conventional tour, each stop will be tailored to reflect the character and cultural heritage of its host city.

"Every city has its own rhythm and personality," Tian says.

"We want audiences to feel that the music belongs to their city. Even the encore pieces will be specially selected for each location."

The repertoire will span both Western classical masterpieces and Chinese works, featuring music by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt alongside beloved Chinese compositions, such as The Shepherd's Flute and Shandan Flowers Bloom Bright Red.

Some performances will incorporate Chinese animation, sand art and classical poetry projections, creating an immersive audiovisual experience.

Throughout her career, Tian has made a point of including Chinese compositions in her concert programs. Among them, one piece remains especially close to her heart: the Yellow River Piano Concerto, which was adapted by veteran pianist Yin Chengzong from the cantata of the same title by Xian Xinghai (1905-45).

"It is one of my favorite works," Tian says.

"I have performed it in many countries with different orchestras, and every performance feels different. The music contains both strength and delicacy."

Tian's own musical journey began early. Born into a musical family in Beijing, she grew up surrounded by rehearsals and performances. Her mother is a soprano, and her father is a composer and conductor. As a child, she would watch her father accompany her mother's singing before climbing onto the piano bench herself.

Her father insisted that music required commitment. "He always told me that the piano wasn't a toy. If I really wanted to learn, I had to take it seriously," she says.

At the age of 3, she asked her parents to allow her to study piano formally. The rest, she says, became a lifelong relationship with music.

At 18, she entered the Shenyang Conservatory of Music. Upon graduation, Tian furthered her studies at the Manhattan School of Music in the United States.

In 2012, she received her master's degree in classical performance from the same New York school.

She won acclaim for her solo performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto No 20 in D Minor, K 466, at the Rising Artists Evening event organized by the New York Concert Artists & Associates at Carnegie Hall in 2012. The same year, she returned to China and held a solo concert in Shenyang.

Her relationship with the piano was built on discipline as much as passion, she notes.

That philosophy extends to her advocacy of music education. During the tour, she will host masterclasses and public events in each city, sharing performance techniques and discussing her artistic journey with young musicians and music lovers.

For children, she says, cultivating interest is the most important first step. For older adults, learning piano can enrich daily life while helping maintain mental and physical agility. For busy professionals, it can offer valuable relief from work pressures.

"You don't need to play the most difficult pieces," she says.

"Start with music you love listening to. Learning becomes much more enjoyable this way."

According to Wang Lu, the deputy general manager of the China Performing Arts Agency, co-organizer of Tian's upcoming tour, the accompanying documentary series aims to bring audiences beyond the concert hall.

Filmed throughout the tour, it will follow Tian as she explores historical neighborhoods, cultural landmarks and traditional craft workshops in each city. Using techniques such as urban sound sampling, documentary filmmaking, and AI-generated audiovisual effects, the series seeks to reveal the connections between music, local culture and everyday life.

The project also reflects Tian's enthusiasm for artistic experimentation. In recent years, she has collaborated with performers of Peking Opera, Cantonese Opera, Hebei Bangzi, and Huangmei Opera, blending piano performance with traditional Chinese theater.

"I enjoy crossing boundaries," Tian says.

"I want young people to discover that Chinese music can be exciting, creative and full of surprises."