Chien's Articles

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Nice to meet you, my name is Chien.
Thank you for reading my articles.
I’m not very good at it, but I enjoy writing, and I contribute articles about classical music here.

I started playing the piano at the age of three. Until I started elementary school, I underwent my mother’s strict training (my mother is a piano teacher).

Once I entered elementary school, I took lessons from various teachers.
Not all of them were great teachers; some didn’t suit me, and I had unpleasant experiences.

Even as a child, I realized that no matter how skilled a teacher might be at playing or teaching, it’s not enough if they’re not a good person.

During elementary school, while I had teachers, my mother often accompanied me to lessons, so she was aware of their content. Since my mother supervised my practice at home, it felt like I was receiving lessons almost every day.

The number of times my mother hit my hands because I couldn’t play well is countless…
If I tried to dodge, she got even angrier and hit me twice as much! I often wished I could become someone else’s child…

The most challenging time was during middle school. My days were packed with school, club activities, cram school, extracurricular lessons (English, solfège), and piano. I was extremely busy, and I remember always being sleepy.

At this time, my unique skill was “playing Czerny while half-asleep.”
After coming back from cram school or lessons, I would practice piano, but I was so exhausted that my mind would start to fall asleep.

However, if I wasn’t making any sound, my mother would get angry, so I unconsciously moved my fingers.
Then I’d suddenly think, “Wait! I hear some sound,” and wake up.

Isn’t that amazing? How was I even moving my fingers?
Unfortunately, I can’t do it anymore.

Thanks to those kinds of efforts (!?), I went on to study at a music high school and then a music university. I am now working as a piano teacher.

People often tell me, “You must really love the piano to have kept playing it since you were little.” But I can’t say I simply love it.

Since I’ve never quit, I guess I don’t hate it, but there have been times when I wanted to give up. However, if someone were to ask me if I could abandon the path of music, I don’t think I could.

My relationship with the piano can’t be summarized with simple words like “love” or “hate.” It’s much more complicated than that.

Someday, I hope I’ll be able to say without hesitation that I love the piano.
Do you think that day will come?