🎹 [5th Grade Preliminaries Episode 6] A Reward from the God of Music—The Great Comeback on the Day of the Preliminaries
The day of the fateful preliminaries had finally arrived.
In the lesson right before the performance, the teacher's words to my daughter were simple.
Believe in everything you've done so far, and go enjoy the performance.
Enjoy... Yes, after all that practice.
In the car on the way to the venue in the next prefecture, my daughter, who is usually talkative, was quieter than I had ever seen her.
(Ah, she's nervous...)
Watching her profile, I remembered in my heart the backs of the many Yukichis (ten-thousand-yen bills) that had departed from my wallet.
When we arrived at the venue and checked the program, I was surprised.
My daughter's turn was actually the very last one.
I've heard rumors that being last makes a better impression on the judges, but the longer the wait, the longer the heart-pounding anxiety lasts.
The judging finally began.
Listening from the audience, all the other children looked like geniuses. Perfect finger movements, beautiful tone.
In the midst of that, my daughter, waiting for her turn, said quietly.
Mom, I'm going to give it my all today. Since I'm the worst one anyway, I have nothing to be afraid of anymore!
That sense of resignation is perfect.
That's right, no need to be greedy. Just go and pour out the world of Bach and Debussy you've built up.
And then, finally, it was my daughter's turn.
She appeared on stage with a slightly stiff expression from nerves and bowed politely.
Hands were placed on the keys, and the first note of the Invention resonated through the silence.
...I can hear it.
A melody where the left and right hands intertwine as equals, yet gently.
The pure sound, like a prayer offered in a church, which we reached after that hellish '10-knock' and 'singing while playing' routine, fills the hall.
Next was Debussy's 'The Little Nigar'.
In a sudden shift, crisp, sharp rhythms burst forth.
That 'color' and 'freedom' we pursued by looking at Monet's art books and covering the sheet music in coloring.
Ah, I can see it...
The bright orange of children dancing in the square, and the magic of a clown grinning defiantly from within the swirling smoke.
Technically, it might still be immature and rough around the edges. But there, standing up like a miracle, was the 'worldview' my daughter had truly created for herself.
The first thing my daughter said after coming off the stage, with a beaming smile, was, 'That was so much fun!'
The moment I heard those words, my heart was full.
The results didn't matter. With just that one word, 'fun,' I felt that all the hardships and the departure of my money had been rewarded.
It was during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There were no results posted at the venue; all announcements were made online.
We got into the car, feeling restless, and headed home.
Inside the car driving on the highway, my hand holding the smartphone was shaking.
'...I wonder if they're out yet.'
Just as I refreshed the PTNA website.
...It's there.
What!?
It's there! It's there! Your name is on the list for the Qualifier Excellence Award!!
My daughter screamed, 'Whaaaat!?'
My husband was stunned, 'No way!?'
The shock was so great that my husband nearly lost control of the steering wheel, causing the car to swerve, and the inside of the car turned into a chaotic mix of emotion and panic!
Two years of piano experience.
The challenge of Class C, which was called 'reckless'.
To my daughter, who kept facing the keyboard with such sincerity, the music gods gave her the most dazzling 'ticket to the finals' as a reward.
★ Moving forward while lost as parent and child
The road to PTNA Class C.
Please continue to watch over us next time too 🎹
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