What’s your way to free and ease your mind? For me, it’s the piano. Around this time last year, I bought myself a piano and seriously started playing it again. It’s my way to relax and working on my brain cells.
It’s been a long time since I have practiced classical piano and my fingers are not working as easy and smooth as I wished them to be. First, it’s very frustrated for me not to be able to play some classical pieces that I used to play. But then it clicks. This is what I want. I need to keep focusing and concentrating, which I find it harder to do these days. In piano world, there is a saying–“Practice makes perfect”. So I think this is a good time for me to sit down and take it easy. I also think that it is the way for me to get my mind out of my daily matters. It’s a kind of a mind therapy for me.
Anyway, over the last couple years I have been inspired by many movies related to piano. The first one is a Japanese movie called “Shindo” (神童), which I blogged about it earlier. There are differences between those who are gifted and those who are not. Under pressure, those talented people can just stop and escape. Nonetheless, they cannot run away from who they truly are.
Yet again, I find this Japanese TV series called Nodame Cantabile (のだめカンタービレ), which is based upon the best selling comic book by the same title, very inspiring. It’s such a shame that I do not see this kind of series in Thailand. I think there is only one Thai person who makes it into the world of classical music–Bundit Ungrangsee–comparing to our neighbor countries such as Japan, Korea, and China. I believe that we can successfully maintain both our national culture and other foreign culture only if we have an appropriate support and a right system from government and private sector. I just feel like having Thai children to be able to explore the world art forms and high quality inspirational media.
The next one is a Taiwanese movie called the “Secret” (不能说的秘密), directed and starred by a famous young singer, Jay Chou. I am just stunned when I see the piano battle scene. I do not know what to say. It’s just amazing. What surprised me more was that the scores were composed by a Thai musician named Terdsak Janpan, whom I never heard before. Until today, I still cannot find further information about him.
Another touching movie is from Korea, titled “For Horowitz” (호로비츠를 위하여). It’s just not easy to live and push your dream in another person’s life, especially when that person is just a child. This is a good movie to watch if you have time. I won’t tell you the ending but be prepare to cry.
When seeing those movies, I get an urge to play classical piano again. Now, getting start is rather difficult for being away such a long while. I have to start exercising my fingers with scale and Hanon. Anyway, three months ago, I decided to go back to music school with hope that I can somehow enjoyed my classical music again.
Currently I am practicing a piece called “Etude: Op. 47 No. 21 Adante con moto” by S. Heller, which I find it confusing in terms of finger position. Anyway everyday I keep telling myself “practice makes perfect”. I am now learning to be patient and focus for at least an hour everyday in front of my piano.
