2018 Farewell to Piano Performance(高中一年级·告别钢琴舞台)-儿歌荟萃-万维博客-万维读者网（电脑版）

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		2018 Farewell to Piano Performance(高中一年级·告别钢琴舞台)	2020-07-09 06:45:03

2018-05-12

【Aiden in English】

I can't seem to fathom how far I've taken piano. Initially, I was confident that the piano had no use in my life beyond being a skill my mom could brag about at parties. Then again, come to think of it, I'm also pretty sure that other kids initially feel the same way. Once the initial phase is over, you enter the period where you are good enough to play songs at near-professional levels with the help of a teacher. At this point, I expanded my playing styles from original classical music to movie scores and jazz. This continues to fuel my interest.

Simultaneously, my sax skill grows in correlation with the piano. I joined the Pennbrook Jazz Band and experienced for the first time what it feels like to sacrifice so much for a group contribution. It was challenging since my jazz background was minimal, and I didn't have anyone to turn to for help, except during jazz practice. However, this year was a success, and I received a Superior rating at every jazz festival.

On the contrary, I've never won or received honors in any piano competition other than the Golden Key Music Festival, which is a prize-giving event, since I started playing the piano at the age of 7. Now, I suppose I've delayed enough, so here it is: I will probably stop piano lessons after passing the piano exams recognized by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). It feels like a waste to end it so suddenly after eight years, but it's now or later, so I choose now. Homework is becoming a legitimate concern, and out-of-school activities are increasing in frequency. If there is a good time to quit, it will be soon.

This is only a warning. I haven't decided on ending it until later this year. Many horror stories about the tenth grade and the vamped-up classes at North Penn HS partially influenced my decision. The other is that I will eventually reach the skill limit. I am not talented, so I'm surprised by my progress. Recently, I've felt that I've taken enormous steps, much larger than when I first started. Perhaps because I'm expanding my music collection or due to maturity, but I don't think these two factors will be enough to motivate me through tenth or eleventh grade. While I may be stopping lessons, I'll still use my skills in other events.

While this may soon end an adventure, I will say life always goes on, but the things you learn never leave. For the longest time, I felt as if getting rid of the piano from my mind would be nice, but recently, after experimenting with other music, I discovered how much fun exploring music on your own can be. Perhaps this is also my mom's fault, but I practiced some songs for too long. For example, a few years ago, while I was still in the later years of elementary school, I practiced an essential Mozart piece for at least a quarter of a year to perfect my pitch for an upcoming piano competition. That was nearly unbearable, considering I had essentially mastered the song after three months (in fact, my level dropped as I continued to play, probably due to carelessness). Furthermore, my mom pressured me into extreme situations, including this one traumatizing moment when I was forced to play on the prominent stage piano in the lobby of the cruise ship. Just thinking about it makes me want to curl up in a corner. Moments like these discouraged my overall enjoyment of music. They diverted me from generally enjoying classical music for about three years. What reignited my interest was the power of movie scores, with their tender melodies and the ability to evoke emotions unlike any other type of music. Along with jazz, recent events have sparked a new burn for music.

However, I'm onto the final stretch after this year’s Golden Key Fest. Maybe something along this line will change my mind, but the track is clear now.

【红霞译】

我好像无法理解怎么会与钢琴结缘，原本以为除了在聚会上可以被妈妈当成炫耀资本几乎别无用途，回头仔细再想，其他同伴肯定也有同样的感觉。一旦度过起步阶段，在老师的帮助下琴技逐步达到足以弹奏高难度的音乐作品，我由此入手开始拓宽演奏风格，从古典音乐至电影插曲再到爵士乐，方才不断培养出对音乐的兴趣爱好。

随着琴艺日见进步，本人萨克斯管吹奏水平也相应提高，加盟宾溪初中爵士乐队恐怕是我平生第一次乐意不惜代价，说来并非易事，毕竟在这方面自己底子薄经验差，平常又无人指导，仅靠乐队排练学点爵士技巧。就这么一年光景，咱乐队总是载誉而归，逐个摘取爵士节桂冠。

相反地，自打七岁初学钢琴以来，我除了在“金钥匙音乐节”上展露头角从未拿过其它比赛名次，暂且不谈个人演技如何，唯有音乐节保证让我挂个名得块牌，现在看来我过于优柔寡断，这么说吧：待英国皇家音乐学院考级结束我真有可能打退堂鼓，经过八年抗战，突然告别钢琴未免感觉前功尽弃，但该发生的事情终究要发生，不如就此打住，再说家庭作业极度加剧，课外活动越来越多，如果想找机会做一了断，还得赶早不赶晚。

这只是预警而已，没准儿到了年底我才会拿定主意。高二需要严阵以待，而北宾州高中早已草木皆兵，多多少少左右我的决定，何况本人钢琴技巧已发展到极限，脑子本来就不够使唤，能取得今天的成绩已然超乎意料。最近我进步很大，甚至比刚开始学琴时更加明显，也许离不开音乐积淀，或者归咎长大成人，但是单凭这两个因素尚不足以激励我走过高二乃至高三，好在即使停止钢琴深造，我还会把这项才艺发扬光大。

钢琴生涯可能即将结束，但在我看来生活总要继续，学到的东西永远不会离你而去。长久以来，我巴不得把钢琴抛到九霄云外，直到最近因为接触了其它音乐才发觉凭借个人爱好去搞音乐该有多大乐趣，这不能不怪妈妈失策，我在某些曲目上耗费太多功夫。记得几年前正值小学高年级阶段，为了追求视奏演技完美，我至少花上一个季度反复揣摩简单明了的莫扎特作品，无聊到了极点，三个月下来这首曲子被弹得臭不可闻（可能因为练琴时心不在焉而殃及弹奏水平）。此外，妈妈还让我困窘不堪，有回竟然强迫我在游轮大厅演奏，我恨不能钻进犄角旮旯，音乐带来的精神享受顿时荡然无存。之后一连三年我不再热衷古典音乐，幸亏电影配乐别具一格，婉转细腻的旋律和震撼心灵的魅力重新唤起内在激情，另有爵士一路相伴，近来学校活动给音乐注入了新的元素。

然而，今年“金钥匙音乐节”过后我要着手扫尾工作，期间也许想法还会发生变化，但到目前为止去意已决。

Today in History(历史上的今天):

2014: In Memory of Glada Hurt(纪念哥兰达赫特)

2018-05-12_NJ Transit0001.JPG On the Way to New York City by NJ Transit