Tuesday, September 29, 2015

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.


8 comments :

  1. Wow... mahilig ka pala sa music... at least nakapag piano lesson ka, achievement na yun! :)

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    1. I think more than mahilig sa music eh mahilig akong mag-imagine ng grandeur. Hahahahaha! Feelingerang wagas. Saka kahit mahilig ako sa music, walang hilig ang music sa akin. :(

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  2. Uy sinubukan ko ding magpiano pero hanggang keyboard lang ako! Ha Ha Ha at mga simple songs lang alam ko like wooden heart! Frustrated din kasi ang madir kong dapat marunong ako ng mga musical instruments. Though napag aralan ko naman ang flute saka lyre nung elementary days. She even coached me how to sing! Frustrated talga! Ha Ha Ha!

    --

    nhengswonderland.blogspot.com

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    1. Hahaha! Apir! Ni-try ko rin yan lyre (xylophone?) na yan sa school nung elementary. I made it through the year nang walang natutunan. Ewan ko ba bakit ang hilig ko sa music eh, clearly, the feeling isn't mutual.

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  3. Hangang-hanga ako sa mga magaling mag-piano. Bukod sa music, gustung gusto ko tingnan yung nagpi-piano na super emote while playing. Ibang klase, eh. At dahil mahilig ako manuod ng nagpi-piano, napanuod ko rin ang movie na The Piano. What a love story. Hahahaha. :)

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    1. Diba? Feel na feel talaga nila yung music. Feel na feel ko rin naman na maging feelingera. Hehehehe!

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  4. I came from an all girls school known for the side of humanities.... arts and music. Everyone who graduates know to play at least one musical instrument. Sadly, ako ang isa sa mga kahihiyan. Never got to master the notes and keys sa piano. Sinumpa ko ang music like my math subjects :D hahaha

    A funny story, I have a classmate who was asked to play the piano during a family event. We were invited kasi friend nila ang Daddy ko. Alam ko, pareho kami. Nung pinag-pplay siya, sh*t kinabahan din ako. I don't know, we're not close pero I felt obliged to help her. To save her, I intentionally poured the glass of coke to her. Sinakyan niya, she made tantrum, nabasa ang favorite dress niya. D ko sure din kung totoo or nag-arte artehan siya. Pero ang sigurado, napagalitan ako ng bonggang bongga pag-uwi. We were never classmates na ulit. But before we graduated, may retreat at "palanca" letters. Sabi niya, thank you daw. Nun ko lang nag-confirm na sinakyan niya drama ko. Hahahaha

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    1. OMG, you're like Superman. Kung sa akin mo ginawa yun, I'd consider it an utang na loob.

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