At first, Jake Ma’s musical journey may seem unconventional. Balancing two instruments, the Chinese hammered dulcimer and the trumpet, Jake’s artistic talent represents a unique duality between Eastern and Western musical cultures and styles. The Chinese dulcimer, also known as the “yangqin,” is a traditional Chinese instrument consisting of over 100 metal strings played with small mallets, or “hammers”.
Jake was first introduced to the dulcimer in first grade, watching his teacher perform at a Chinese New Year event. “I saw it and thought, that looks really cool,” Jake recalled. Soon after, his mother arranged lessons with the teacher, and he began learning the dulcimer himself. That short moment of curiosity marked the beginning of nearly a decade of dedication to the Chinese dulcimer. In addition, Jake also picked up the trumpet in fourth grade through a school music program. He has continued to play the trumpet since then, being a part of Belmont Hill’s Upper School Jazz Band.
While the trumpet remains a meaningful part of his musical career, his primary focus has shifted to the dulcimer. He currently studies with a professional musician who has performed with orchestras in China, including the China Central Chinese Orchestra. As his talents developed, Jake also joined his teacher’s orchestra, performing alongside students who specialize in other traditional Chinese instruments, such as the guzheng.
After COVID, Jake joined a much larger and more competitive orchestra, the Boston Chinese Music Association Youth Orchestra. Although he was initially in the youth orchestra, he was quickly promoted to the main ensemble. He now plays in both groups, which meet weekly. At one point, the orchestra was preparing for a performance at Carnegie Hall. “I thought it was going to be more chill,” Jake admitted, “But they take it really seriously.” The orchestra is filled with professional musicians, many of whom played in other Chinese orchestras.
Behind the scenes, Jake’s practice is just as intense. The dulcimer itself presents a unique challenge, having over one hundred strings. Changes in temperature, even if small, can throw off each individual string. “I had to spend three hours tuning it once,” he said. Earlier in his musical journey, mistakes were expensive, with the delicate strings being easy to break. However, the reward clearly outweighed the risk, as Jake loved the dulcimer’s versatility. “You can play multiple notes, there are different techniques, and there’s just more variety,” he explained.
In the earlier stages of his musical life, Jake’s relationship with music was defined largely by discipline. However, as he began to progress musically, his motivation shifted towards enjoyment, especially when playing with others. Jake remembers, “But then, as I started actually playing [the dulcimer], and it was definitely just fun for me.” Playing both the dulcimer and the trumpet has given Jake a unique view on music. He has learned to read both the Western music notation with the five lines, but also the Chinese numbered notation. “It’s definitely cool to have that fusion and to be exposed to both sides,” Jake describes. With the two different musical cultures, Jake has experienced firsthand the difference between the traditions.
Outside of music, Jake also pursues performance through acting, having participated in every fall play since seventh grade. He also enjoys drawing and recently took Mr. Ziff’s Advanced Engineering and Design class, where he took his art into a more physical form.
Looking ahead, Jake doesn’t plan to pursue music professionally but rather wants to focus on what he enjoys most. For him, this means continuing the dulcimer and playing in orchestras, as well as designing more projects that incorporate both art and engineering.
Jake’s musical journey is not defined by a single instrument or moment, but rather by the communities and lifelong passions developed through music, across different cultures and experiences.