episode_0025

It’s commonly said that in classical music, playing at a fast tempo does not necessarily equate to being ‘skilled.’

Once, a movie that garnered immense popularity through piano battles was criticized by true classical music fans as a film that ‘misunderstood classical music,’ partly due to its portrayal of prestissimo as a crucial indicator of skill.

Of course, the ability to play prestissimo doesn’t define a pianist’s skill per se.

In any music, technical perfection and artistry are crucial. Therefore, I believe that attempting prestissimo in a highly challenging piece, mastered by those skilled in Levels 1 and 2, can indeed be an indicator of proficiency and capability.

Naturally, isn’t it?

Even playing it normally is a difficult piece.

Who could doubt the skill of someone who flawlessly plays it at a faster tempo than usual without a single mistake?

Well, that’s assuming they strictly adhere to the markings on the sheet music and instructions regarding technique while just increasing the speed.

“Ugh.”

So, does playing slower than the prescribed tempo indicate a lack of skill?

La Campanella’s tempo marking is Allegretto.

Though it doesn’t directly correspond to BPM, assuming it’s around 120, eighth notes are played four times per second, sixteenth notes eight times, and the fastest part, thirty-second notes, require pressing the keys a whopping sixteen times per second.

Since I was six years old, my goal has been to complete this piece at 120 bpm.

I barely managed it just before entering university, and even slightly increasing the speed was possible before graduating.

Before each lesson, I would warm up my hands to play La Campanella with exceptional love.

However, now I can’t keep up with the speed I once achieved.

“It’s out of reach.”

From hand size to arm length, wrist flexibility, and finger strength—everything has changed.

“I lack the strength…!”

Octave trills that were once achievable solely with finger strength while keeping the hand stable now require rapid movements with relaxed wrists.

“Ugh!”

Attempting a technique involving repeated notes followed by octaves using the thumb and index finger, I had to literally stretch to reach the desired keys under my pinky finger.

Simply stretching wasn’t the issue.

Repeating jumps and notes quickly accumulated fatigue in my arms.

Pushing myself to finish somehow, my stamina was off, and by the latter part, the entire piece was on the verge of collapse.

Finally, just before the cadenza.

After the fast scales, during the arpeggios, I declared defeat.

“Fail— Ugh!”

I almost toppled over from the piano bench but thankfully caught myself with my toes under the keys.

My head didn’t touch the ground by a hair’s breadth.

Perhaps it’s because Chaewon is flexible; even in a contorted position like an archer’s bow, nothing hurt.

“This won’t do.”

Indeed, differences in physical abilities cannot be ignored.

Chaewon and I clearly differ in physicality.

However, is Chaewon’s body unsuitable for playing the piano? Not at all.

Each person has a style suited to their body, meaning stepping away from Jungsu’s style I clung to until recently is necessary to achieve a satisfying performance.

“Still…”

Something feels blocked.

A feeling surges warmly in my chest.

It’s like when I was young.

Adjusting my playing posture and technique every few years to match my growing body, it feels like returning to those times.

Piano is enjoyable after all.

It always has been, and even becoming Chaewon hasn’t changed that.

And if we were to measure enthusiasm, well, Chaewon now is far more enthusiastic than Jungsu ever was.

“Color.”

The hope of finding color might be what’s driving me.

Living in pitch-black darkness, I had resigned to reality.

But now, light is beginning to shine in.

Faint and small, almost invisible.

Clearly showing me the way to a new world.

“As expected, Acklert.”

You proved my hope right.

I’m glad that my obsession with you wasn’t in vain.

“If you want to refer to it….”

Indeed, it would be better to watch Chaewon’s video again.

In the future, as Chaewon plays the pieces and recreates the sheet music that remains only in her memory, we must gradually understand her piano identity.

I’m sorry for forcefully dragging you along.

Still, Min Chaewon is truly amazing.

Wasn’t it a lie that you dislike classical music?

Even though it was precarious, you didn’t make a single mistake until just before the cadenza.

It wouldn’t have worked if I had forced it.

The piece “La Campanella” was stored in your muscle memory, which is why it was possible.

###

One hour later, at the piano department of Hanyang University, Professor Baek Joong-eon’s office.

“Yes, come in.”

With a knock, a black-haired young lady with a neat smile greeted Baek Joong-eon.

“Hello, professor. Are you busy?”

From Yoon Jiyu’s perspective, all she could see above the monitor were glimpses of messy hair.

Professor Baek Joong-eon seemed preoccupied with organizing lesson notes from students who applied for the ongoing Mozart Korea Competition in early April in Korea.

“You might have to wait a bit. Is that okay?”

“Yes.”

“Then, please have a seat. Would you like something to drink?”

“No, thank you. Just water, please.”

Standing in front of the water cooler, she filled a paper cup with water.

Yoon Jiyu’s gaze shifted towards Baek Joong-eon beyond the monitor.

Tap-tap-tap.

Baek Joong-eon’s hands swiftly moved across the keyboard.

He was deeply engrossed in his document work.

“…?”

However, Yoon Jiyu soon noticed something peculiar.

Baek Joong-eon’s fingers were repetitively pressing specific buttons in a steady rhythm.

Initially, she thought it was a mistake.

[A][S][D][L][;][‘]

Who in the world writes a document using only these six buttons?

Muttering softly, Yoon Jiyu couldn’t help but wonder, “What kind of music is this? Classical?”

Baek Joong-eon’s fast-moving hand executed a series of actions mechanically.

Left hand on Alt+Tab. Right hand lowering the speaker volume.

Yoon Jiyu seemed to have an idea of what Baek Joong-eon was up to.

Last year, the game ‘Pianimo,’ which was ported to Shithim and receiving love from fans again, was occasionally played by students in the instrumental department at Hanyang University. That must be it.

“Ahem. I’m quite busy. What’s the matter?”

Seeing him playing a game, it seemed like he had already finished organizing the lesson notes.

His dedication was unparalleled.

“Is this student a new piano major?”

A video recorded in Baek Joong-eon’s hall played on Yoon Jiyu’s phone.

A girl with olive-colored neat short hair was playing La Campanella as if possessed by something.

“Hmm?”

Slightly slower than usual performances.

But equally well-structured La Campanella.

Her clean and precise play, without missing a single note even with small hands, impressed Baek Joong-eon.

Haven’t even famous pianists made one or two mistakes in such a challenging piece?

Although she gave up due to lack of stamina before the cadenza, her performance was quite intriguing.

Among those Baek Joong-eon knew, there were only two people who could play La Campanella so perfectly.

“This is strange. I’ve never seen a student like this before.”

“Could this student have canceled their enrollment? We have many geniuses at our school, and some friends get discouraged because there are too many prodigies.”

“Hmm… Let’s wait and see.”

Baek Joong-eon hurriedly searched through the student records.

However, no matter how much he looked at the photos, he couldn’t find the student from the video.

“Her name is Chaewon.”

“Chaewon.”

Even after using the search function, nothing changed.

Among the students, the name Chaewon did not exist in Professor Baek Joong-eon’s mind or in the academic records.

“I don’t think she belongs to any other department, judging by her piano skills.”

“I agree. However, it seems like someone in the piano department knows her.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It seems that our department students heard that there is a grand piano here. They didn’t reveal the name, though.”

With a smirk, Yoon Ji-yoo hinted to Baek Joong-eon.

“She’s 19 years old. Isn’t it unlikely for her to come here and play without a separate mentor?”

“Hmm… It makes sense. It’s unreasonable for a student with this level of skill to have no sponsor foundation or mentor.”

“Still, we don’t know.”

Just by looking at Baek Joong-eon’s expression, it was clear.

In that short moment, he had fallen for Chaewon’s performance.

No matter how renowned and prestigious a professor from a famous conservatory he was.

No matter how many accolades he had accumulated and how many students he had mentored.

His desire for nurturing new talent was unceasing.

“I should casually ask the students in our department about her.”

“If you find her, will you let me know?”

“Huh? Why you, Jiyoo?”

Yoon Ji-yoo crumpled the empty paper cup she was holding and tossed it into the trash can.

“She seems like a perfect practice partner for me.”

***

Playing through the arrangement sheet music of the song ‘Idol’ in her mind that she was supposed to perform this Sunday.

Although she had just passed the middle of the piece, she already felt like giving it five stars.

“It’s not difficult at all.”

In reality, it was a dedication from Chaewon to Min Chaewon herself.

It was completely different from when she played La Campanella earlier.

There was no discomfort or awkwardness throughout.

“Surely, all the original musical elements are included…”

Even with Chaewon’s small hands, she covered everything.

While her right hand mainly handled the vocal line, she adeptly managed with left-hand jumps and crossovers when necessary. The remaining fingers covered the synthesizer, main theme, and bass.

Despite her limited hand size, she perfectly adapted by editing the left-hand and right-hand scores appropriately and adjusting finger-specific calculations.

There were almost no idle fingers while playing.

Yet, she wasn’t showing off by hitting every note of the original piece with a devilish density of notes.

By precisely including only what was necessary, she achieved a rendition that sounded like about 80% of the original.

This was Chaewon’s style and truly a magical feat.

Here, the true value from No. 1 to No. 24 was revealed.

By dissecting each component of the entire orchestra and making it her own. Moreover, since the base was Chaewon’s piano, the arrangement was flawless.

As someone who avoided composition and arrangement due to lack of creativity, I could only marvel at it.

Should I try playing another piece after this one?

It feels like sitting next to Chaewon on the piano bench, playing together.

“Bravo!”

However, as cheers erupted right after finishing the piece,

I was startled, stood up from the piano bench, and banged my knee against the keys.

“Ouch….”

With a painful groan, I collapsed to the ground, and a familiar face loomed over me.

“Are you really not an idol, voice actor… or a YouTuber?”

Where did Yoon Jichang pop out from?