Mga Istoryang Sinauna: My "Career" As A "Concert Pianist"

One thing about me -- sobra akong ilusyonada. Marami akong feeling kong kayang gawin. Feeling lang. Feelingera nga kasi.

Back when I was in elementary, the school offered piano lessons for students. It was extracurricular and not covered by the tuition fee. But the tuition fee wasn't exactly cheap in the first place, so the piano lessons were out of the budget and out of the question. But I so wanted to learn. So much.

Nung mag-college ako, medyo nakaluwag-luwag ng konti, kinulit ko si Madear na i-finance ang piano lessons ko. Kakakulit ko, napapayag ko rin. So nag-enroll ako sa Conservatory of Music for four lessons. Parang "starter set" ba.

As I was walking to my very first ever piano lesson, with my piano for beginners book, I was full of optimism and was already imagining myself in the middle of the stage, playing the piano in front of an appreciative audience. Star na star ako in my daydream!

Pagdating ng piano teacher (he's a famous pianist and poet) sa piano room, he said, "Okay, show me what you know."
Uhhhhmmmm...I don't know any.
I did do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do.
I was NOT joking.
The professor was NOT smiling.
I think, in his mind, he was all, "Bwisit na registrar yun ah, sa akin pa ni-assign eto."
"O sige, practice-in mo yang pages XX-XX," he said.
I did.
Natapos ang isang oras.

Second lesson na...
"Did you practice?"
"I did, yes."
"Okay, let me hear it."
Fingers to the keys. Piano-ing like my life depended on it.
"Your rhythm is off. Here's the metronome. Gamitin mo."
I didn't even know how to.
"Maybe you should learn how to dance muna para matuto ka ng rhythm." 

DANCE?!!! RHYTHM?!!! DANCE?!!! DANCE?!!! If I have to learn how to dance in order to learn how to play the piano, then it's a lost cause.


Hindi na ako bumalik!

Kyeber na sa natitira kong two more lessons. There goes the concerto, the star, the diva in my mind.


Hindi nakakalimutan ni Madear 'yan. Makakalimutin na 'yun pero di nya ako nakakalimutang asarin sa aking failed "career" as a concert pianist. She's always quick to snark pag napag-uusapan ang piano or music in general, "Eh di ba pumasok ka sa Conservatory?" *Eyeroll*

At dahil dyan, favorite app ko ang Smule Magic Piano. Kasi feeling ko ang galing-galing kong pianist when I'm playing, especially my favorite, Handel's Messiah.