God of Piano

The composition journal of Prelude No. 4 had a slightly different atmosphere from the puppy waltz. It must have been because Chopin and Sand still had a relatively healthy relationship.

Of course, even so, Chopin’s characteristic melancholy did not disappear. When composing the prelude, Chopin was in recuperation on the island of Majorca, battling an illness for a long time.

A melodious melody that seems to push the body down. A feeling of beat as if the heart is being squeezed.

With each note of Prelude No. 4, Chopin captured that silent despair slowly sinking into the swamp. I was trying to contain it. Even if no one else knew, Rowoon could say more confidently than anyone else that it was true.

“…”

Remove your hand from the Walkman. I’ve already played back the composition log for Prelude No. 4 over five times. And each time, Rowoon couldn’t help but feel the traces of desperate struggle buried in Chopin’s life.

‘What is contained in this song is not just about sickness or death.’

Replaying the composition log, Rowoon sensed a lot of the history of what he conceived of as Chopin, albeit vaguely. Even though he loved and was loved by a person named Sand, a lot of sadness and pain lay dormant in a corner of him.

Right now, it was the same for his homeland, Poland. When thinking of his country suffering under Russian rule, Chopin felt somehow guilty even living happily with Sande.

And when he felt his guilt, Sande became more sensitive, and that sensitivity went back to Chopin and made his thorns sharper. They still loved each other enough not to blush from the wounds inflicted by each other’s thorns, but they knew, consciously or unconsciously, that their love would not last forever.

When watching their relationship that was about to break up, Rowoon felt as if his heart was choked somewhere. And as much as that, I couldn’t help but understand why Chopin gave me homework on the puppy’s waltz log.

[Before love cools down, come and experience separation. ]

‘······Can you say that you will do this?’

Rowoon sighed. It was not wrong to guess that 60 performance points were the condition for unlocking the performance log. However, Rowoon could not be happy. It was because Chopin’s homework was like that, something he couldn’t do with his will alone.

There is no lover to break up in the first place, and even if there is a lover, would he really want to break up because of one homework? It was a task that seemed impossible in many ways.

However, because of that, there were things that made me not obsess over the performance log. If it was a homework that he could solve with some effort, Rowoon might have focused on that and paid less attention to more fundamental things.

No worries. Regardless of whether or not he obtained a performance log, Rowoon’s performance was steadily improving. In the first place, it wasn’t even that I prepared for the online audition considering the performance log.

There was no need to complicate things. Just practice, get all of Bach’s composing journals, and slowly follow in the footsteps of Bach and Chopin. That’s it. There was nothing more he could do.

However, unlike Rowoon, there was someone who couldn’t just look at all of this so simply.

principal’s office. Baum stood facing the headmaster’s benevolent, but somehow unreadable face.

“After hearing the story, I was a little surprised. Gregor, he said he was applying for the California Conservatory.”

“It happened.”

“I remember saying that when we talked the other day. Every student has a college that suits them, and we teachers have to make that understandable to our students.”

“yes. It was.”

“Gregor, is he a good friend for the California Conservatory?”

Baum looked at the principal in silence. If it was him in the past, he would have answered without hesitation. Doesn’t fit. like that.

But if he hadn’t changed, he wouldn’t have been standing in front of the principal like this in the first place. The principal accepted Baum’s silence as an answer. The principal sighed.

“Mr. Baum. Why do you think students come to Hidden Valley High School?”

“······well. Isn’t it because it’s a good environment for music?”

“Because of statistics.”

The principal’s voice was soft but without warmth.

“How many students, how good a university, and how high the probability of admission. It is only thanks to those statistics that I and the teacher can earn a living and live. What students want is results. And we have to give them the best results.”

“I remember our conclusion that Gregor would definitely be welcomed by many universities if he went east.”

“Even if that friend says he wants to go to the California Conservatory, it’s our job to tell him why he can’t.”

“It is just as important to guide students as to trust them.”

“teacher. Are you sure now that you really guided Gregor on the right path?”

His words were realistic, but that’s why they sounded right.

Baum met the principal’s calm gaze. Whether his questions were reprimanded or not depended entirely on Baum’s answers.

“I am not sure.”

“I respect the principal’s opinion that statistics are important.”

“I also agree that the best option for Gregor would not have been the California Conservatory.”

“But Gregor wanted to take on the challenge,”

“As a teacher, I think it is as much an obligation to help students walk as they want to walk.”

“And I believe in my disciple.”

“Gregor will get what he wants.”

In response to Baum’s calm reply, the principal nodded slowly. He didn’t even try to catch the horse’s tail, and he didn’t even try to refute that.

“Gregor might get what he wants. But Rowoon, what about that kid? At least as far as I know, he didn’t show enough skills to get into the California Conservatory of Music.”

“Principal.”

Baum chuckled. Compared to when he was talking about Gregor, he had a much more confident expression on his face.

“Weeds tend to grow. Gone are the days when that child was a bud.”

“Can I take this as meaning that I can expect fruit?”

The principal’s question also sounded like he could be held accountable for his words.

“I promise.”

But there was no hesitation in Baum’s answer.

“It will produce very large and sweet fruits.”

#

“…”

lesson room. Rowoon slowly stretched his sweaty, slippery fingers. His hands had just played all thirty variations and two arias.

pick up the walkman Hit the record button again, hit rewind, then hit the play button. The earphones in his ears quietly reflected on his performance, and soon, in a calm voice, announced the end of his long journey.

…

…

[The performance score of the 30th variation is 51 points.

[ The performance score of Aria Da Capo is 54 points. ]

[ The 31st and 32nd journals of the Goldberg Variations have been unlocked! ]

The harvest day was drawing near.

＜ Only one performance (4) ＞ End

＜ Only one performance (5) ＞

Hidden Valley High School usually begins to take on a gloomy atmosphere around November.

It is unavoidable. There are no exceptions, but most music schools close online applications in December, and start taking actual auditions around February.

So, November is bound to be depressing. Because the end is near.

Of course, you could say that this is a story only for 4th graders. However, even if you are not a 4th grader with an entrance exam ahead, you can’t help but feel anxious when you see 4th graders who leave a sense of nervousness with every step they take. The tension spreads like a plague, and the more so, the campus fills with passionate music instead of laughter.

But even on stony ground, flowers bloom,

Without any warning, Rowoon became the owner of the flower.

“······what?”

“When it’s time, let’s have a cup of coffee.”

“now?”

“Why, is it okay any other time than now? Then that’s good too.”

Rowoon remained silent for a moment.

A dark-haired girl was looking at him with a mischievous expression. A lot of information about her passed through Rowoon’s mind. My name is Kate. The same piano department. He has a cheerful personality, is slightly shorter than him, and has fair skin and a few freckles.

Even in the midst of chaos, two things were certain.

One was that this was the first time Kate had asked him for coffee,

Another was that the coffee couldn’t just mean coffee.

“…Is that coffee that coffee?”

“Whatever coffee you imagine, it probably fits.”

“Um, um, that… I’m grateful for the suggestion, but, a bit… sudden? Why me?”

“Why, why? I liked it. Can’t you do that?”

“It’s not that it’s not possible, but it’s time to practice for a long time…”

“Anyway, he’s like a piano nerd.”

Kate giggled and laughed.

“But I like it too. Let’s drink coffee. Don’t you have time?”

“Um, sorry…”

“Yes! Why not!”

It was then. Before Rowoon could answer anything, a loud voice came from beside them. It was Chris. He approached with a smile on his face as if he had caught something. Rowoon made a sad face, and Kate laughed as if she was having fun. Chris came up to me like flying and wrapped his arms around Rowoon’s shoulders.

“I know, but this kid has all his classes today. you can take it Kate.”

“Oh, really?”

“of course.”

“Hey, Chris. Who are you······.”

“Listen to me, son.”

Chris whispered to Rowoon in a low voice. Facing Rowoon’s ridiculous face, Chris said without wavering.

“I know you’re busy with auditions, but think wisely. Look again at how attractive the woman in front of you is.”

“…”