Top Star's Son Enters Berklee! Peter Conquers Elite School with Taiwanese Ear Training Skills

Peter, the 21-year-old son of veteran keyboardist Ah Jian and artist Yang Yu-ni, is making waves at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Often dubbed the "top star second-generation" for his striking resemblance to Wang Leehom and his mixed-race good looks, Peter is currently on a summer break in Taiwan, sharing insights into his life as a student in Boston.

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I'm actually very introverted. When I first went there, the whole floor was foreigners, and I couldn't get the cultural jokes at all. I really felt like I didn't belong.

Contrary to expectations of a lavish lifestyle, Peter embraces frugality. He revealed that he lives in a small, 50,000 NT dollar per month apartment in Boston, which he describes as a "birdcage" due to its limited space. His wardrobe consists mainly of affordable vintage finds, with shirts costing around 600 NT dollars. He also limits his entertainment to occasional, inexpensive Boston Celtics games.

Peter admitted to initial struggles with cultural differences and loneliness during his first year. As an only child accustomed to being well-cared for in Taiwan, he found adapting to independent living challenging. He actively pushed himself out of his comfort zone, attending social gatherings to integrate, and learned to set boundaries, moving away from a people-pleasing "people-pleasing personality" to prioritize his own needs.

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You just have to become better than them, and they will respect you. There's no other way, just keep practicing!

Academically, Peter thrives at Berklee, a hub for musical talent. He believes that excelling in music requires dedication and practice, especially when interacting with peers who can be perceived as aloof. His Taiwanese music education, particularly the emphasis on ear training (dictation), has given him a significant advantage. This skill allows him to quickly absorb and learn genres like Black gospel and soul music, which are prominent at Berklee.

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Taiwanese music classes have a training called 'dictation.' The teacher plays a melody or chord, and you have to write it down. This makes my ears particularly good.

Despite his independence, Peter cherishes his family. He finds John Mayer's song "Stop This Train" resonates with his feelings about time passing and his parents aging. He has learned to appreciate being near his family, a sentiment that has grown since moving abroad. Back home, he adheres to his parents' rules, like a midnight curfew, as a sign of respect. His most rebellious act, he jokes, was dyeing his hair blonde for the movie "Barbie," a fact he kept from his father.

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This song is about how time passes quickly. Watching my parents grow old, I wish time would slow down.