The Healing Life of a Music Genius - Chapter 136



Only Noblemtl

136 From a child

* * *

A single-family house in Saebom-dong.

During the interview, CNN reporter Nora Ward asked a question purely out of curiosity.

“But pianist Seojin Han speaks English very well. I think my pronunciation is better than most locals. “Did she ever study abroad when she was younger than now?”

Seojin Han answered with a smile.

“well. “I have never studied abroad.”

“So, even though you continued to study here, you still speak English at this level?”

“You could say so. These days, we live in a global era. Even if you are in ‘one place,’ you can have a variety of experiences.”

Non-English-speaking performers often become discouraged during interviews due to the language, but this boy showed no such signs.

‘It’s nice to see. You look confident too.’

The boy also briefly explained the structure of the program that will be performed at Carnegie Hall.

He also jokes that if you want to hear more details, why not come see the performance in person?

“ha ha ha. I really need to do that. But who planned this performance list? ⌜Schmid⌟? Or did the strong pianist known as the ‘Lion of the East’ help?”

“The selection of the song list reflected more than 90% of my intentions. However, there was a song that I was worried about whether to include in the program or not, and I ended up following Professor Yuhan Kang’s opinion on that song.”

“You are already amazing at such a young age. But ‘Professor’ Kang Yoo-han?”

“I feel more comfortable with that title. You are also working as a professor at Korea University. “Thanks to you, I was able to form a relationship with him.”

Kang Yuhan.

A pianist who began to be called the ‘Lion of the East’ when he was active around the world.

Because it was a nickname created a long time ago, it may seem old-fashioned now, but it meant that he was one of the pianists who showed such strong pianism.

This is where Nora Ward’s curiosity arose.

Kang Yu-han’s disciple.

The student won the competition in Ettlingen and went on to perform at Carnegie Hall.

What kind of education did he receive that enabled him to achieve success from such a young age?

So, Reporter Ward briefly asked Kang Yu-han about what he learned.

Thanks to this, I learned that Han Seo-jin studied with Kang Yu-han for only a year.

“······ Did you say it’s been a year now?”

“To be exact, it’s been a little over a year. “You are like a benefactor to me.”

“No, wait a minute. So what about before that? “Who on earth did you learn to play the piano from?”

A boy who won the Ettlingen International Competition with an overwhelming evaluation from the judges.

CNN also had sources in Europe, so they knew about this news a long time ago.

However, now I have learned for the first time that there is another teacher who has taught piano for a longer period of time than Kang Yu-han.

Han Seo-jin thought about it carefully, then nodded and answered.

“This is a global era. I studied by listening to various performers on the Internet. Among them, I fell in love with the music of one musician. However, there is someone else who gave me the foundation to play the piano.”

“Who is that?”

Han Seo-jin gave an unexpected answer.

“This is Teacher Park Ha-seon, the director of Saebom Piano Academy. “He runs an academy near here, and he’s well-known in our neighborhood.”

“······.”

Reporter Ward naturally tilted his head.

‘Park Ha-seon?’

Even Ward, who doesn’t know much about Seoul, knows full well that Saebom-dong is in a remote place.

In a word, local.

According to Han Seo-jin, before meeting Kang Yu-han, he did not seem to have received a proper elite education.

‘Then, at a small academy in this area… Does this mean that a genius has been born?’

Contrary to Reporter Ward’s questions, Han Seo-jin continued his explanation excitedly.

“Even if there are repeated mistakes, please kindly let me know. Should I say that they recognize the level of the performer? So I was able to keep playing without giving up. “If I hadn’t learned piano from teacher Ha-sun Park, nothing would have happened to me now.”

Han Seo-jin was sincere.

Before meeting Mr. Miller, the place where I studied piano was Saebom Piano Academy.

A little over a year had passed since I learned to play the piano.

At that time, teacher Park Ha-seon always supported Han Seo-jin, who was not good at playing the piano.

We sent Han Seo-jin to a small concert held in Saebom-dong, where she received applause from the people.

The first cheers I received in my life.

Thanks to that memory, Seojin Han may still be playing the piano to this day.

Thanks to that memory, Seojin Han met Uncle Miller.

So Han Seo-jin was always grateful to teacher Park Ha-sun.

“okay. “I heard an interesting story.”

The interview continued.

Questions and answers were exchanged for almost two hours, and the photo shoot was completed without incident.

Everything went smoothly except for an uproar caused by a girl who looked like a doll giving soda cans to CNN officials.

The final part of the interview was Han Seo-jin’s piano performance.

The boy sitting in front of the piano looked at the music stand without sheet music for a long time.

The hand slowly rises above the keyboard.

The gesture seemed very affectionate, as if handling a child.

The piano’s performance finally breaks the silence.

This was the first time that Han Seo-jin’s performance was revealed to the public.

In the case of the Ettlingen Competition and Gala Concert, in the name of maintaining tradition, the footage is not released separately.

However, the video of Han Seo-jin’s interview with CNN today will become widely known in the United States.

The scattered chords come together to create a beautiful melody.

Nora Ward froze for a moment.

‘What kind of performance is this…?’

I am so overwhelmed by the beauty that I feel like I can’t breathe.

While he played, everything around him seemed to stop.

I naturally became immersed in the pianist’s performance.

Nora Ward, who has interviewed numerous performers so far, could not easily understand this situation.

‘With other musicians… Are the fundamentals different?’

It was not a simple difference in technique.

There seemed to be some secret hidden in this child’s playing.

That’s when I try to think deeply about what it is.

“ah!”

The boy’s playing suddenly stopped.

I looked at ⌜Schmid⌟ Korea’s manager Kim Soo-ho, wondering what was going on, and he spewed out obscenities.

“If you’re curious, you should come see it in person. Even CNN cannot reveal the entire performance. “You must understand that.”

“······.”

For a moment, Nora Ward forgot that this was an interview.

She took a deep breath.

“Whew. That’s right. It was a really great performance. “If anyone sees this video, they will want to go to Carnegie Hall.”

“That’s what we’re hoping for.”

Han Seo-jin stood up and gave a light greeting.

At the same time, I did not forget to say that I would prepare hard to show a better performance than now.

‘It’s a better performance than now…’

Ward had a smile on his face without even realizing it.

“Thank you for today’s interview. “I’m looking forward to future activities.”

“I’m sorry for not being able to show you the performance to the end. “If I get a chance next time, I’ll definitely tell you.”

“I’ll see you at Carnegie Hall before then.”

After saying hello to Han Seo-jin, Ward left the house.

And just before getting in the car, I exchanged a few more words with Kim Su-ho.

“I have something else I want to tell you. “I personally have one concern.”

“Concerned?”

“yes. I heard there was a bit of an uproar in Korea because the ‘contest news’ related to that child was reported? “There were rumors that he indirectly mentioned that child or something.”

This was Nora Ward, who diligently conducted preliminary research before the interview.

“It’s not a big rumor. “It’s like a prank from a small media company.”

“I guess so. But the power of the media is surprisingly great. There is nothing good about being involved in strange rumors for no reason. Now that we have become involved with ⌜Schmid⌟ again, we thought we would take care of the matter. Would you like CNN to say something about Korea’s ‘poor news reporting’?”

Kim Su-ho slowly shook his head.

“no. it’s okay. We were also preparing something. Rather, if CNN mentions this story, it will only make more noise in Korea.”

“is that so?”

“yes. Thank you for caring me. “In Korea, Korean methods work better.”

Reporter Ward heard his words and immediately got into the car. He slightly rolls down the window and adds another word.

“Today’s interview will be featured on CNN’s main news within tomorrow at the latest. Stories about new geniuses are always exciting.”

“yes. It’s as planned. i look forward to.”

“Then we’ll just leave.”

As he watched the car driving away from the child’s house, Kim Soo-ho made a call to someone.

.

.

.

An old office in Jongno.

Inside the office with a sign reading ⌜Daily Reporting⌟ at the entrance, two people raise their voices.

“what? Issue a corrected report? “Who said that?”

“⌜Schmid⌟, a performance agency.”

“Ah, is it because of that article? But isn’t that the article we published to tie up with Han Seo-jin? This article was published to criticize that actor. “I pieced the rest together a bit, but you didn’t even mention your real name, right?”

“I guess I felt bad though. “They will look into it if I submit a corrected article within two weeks…”

“what? 2 weeks? it’s crazy?”

The manager frowns.

“Do they have any connections? “What kind of guts do you have?”

“well. “I just got a call like that a little while ago.”

“Is that the end?”

“yes.”

“Then why don’t you just ignore me? Why are you even talking to me? Never mind.”

The ⌜Day Coverage⌟ team forgot about ‘this case’ as instructed by the manager.

But the next day.

This time I received a call that I couldn’t ignore.

I don’t know how they did it, but all the articles they had published so far were tied together and sanctions were imposed from the Korea Communications Commission.

Business was suspended for 3 months.

What immediately comes to mind is ⌜Schmid⌟’s call yesterday, so I tried calling Kim Su-ho just in case, but it was no use.

– ······ Since the connection is not possible, you will be connected to Sorisam and a call fee will be charged after the beep sound.

“Why isn’t he answering the phone again!!!”

“Well, I don’t know?”

.

.

.

Kim Su-ho registered several numbers as spam numbers and then leaned back in his chair.

“I just want to do something related to music. “I can’t believe I even made use of ⌜Schmid⌟’s connections…”

Actually, there was no need to go to this extent, but I thought it was necessary to set an example at least once.

Even if it was clumsy and anonymous, it was necessary to let people know what would happen if they messed with ⌜Schmid⌟’s artists.

This meant that we should not bother each other.

Rumors will spread quickly.

That was enough.

“When on earth am I going to the United States or Europe?”

He was someone who only wanted to focus on music and artists.

* * *

CNN covered pianist Seojin Han in depth.

Winner of the Ettlingen Competition, praised by world greats.

A successful collaboration with Konzerthaus Berlin, Germany.

A performance to be performed at Carnegie Hall in the United States in the future.

After the CNN report, the Korean media began to give more attention to Han Seo-jin.

Thanks to this, people began to look at Han Seo-jin with interest online as well.

ㄴ Carnegie Hall? 14 years old? Is this true?

ㄴ Han Seo-jin. They say he is the top student at Sulwha Arts Middle School. It was a ripe leaf.

ㄴ ㅇㅇ My relative goes to Seolhwa and he praises Han Seo-jin a lot. He’s good at studying, and he’s good at teaching me things I don’t know.

ㄴ Hey! I saw a piano playing video on CNN NewTube and it was no joke. This skill is tier 1?

Wow. I just watched it too and the piano performance gave me goosebumps. It’s crazy to capture emotions.

ㄴ But why does the performance stop in the middle?

ㄴ For the rest, go to the concert hall and watch it.

ㄴ Oh, you want to get on a plane to see a performance at Carnegie Hall? lol

ㄴ LOL So then we can’t listen to the end of this performance?

ㄴ Ugh! Why do you stop playing?

ㄴ Ugh ㅠㅠ

and.

This interest continued offline as well.

“oh my god! Seojin! Carnegie Hall? Really?”

“I knew it would be like this. You said he was going to be on a big stage, right? “I didn’t know it was this big.”

“Kyaaaaaa! Seojin! It went great! “You are the hope of our Class A!”

“Ettlingen wins and this time it’s Carnegie Hall? hmm. Are we friends? “We also ate tteokbokki together, right?”

“It went really well! You have to explain it to me when you come back from Carnegie Hall. Understand?”

“······ okay.”

Thanks to this, it became difficult to pass through the school gate.

I quietly asked my friend next to me.

“Wouldn’t this commotion soon quiet down? “It got quiet right away when we won last time in Ettlingen and when school started.”

Lee Ha-eun slowly shook her head.

“It’s Carnegie Hall. Then it’s not that difficult. “It’s at least two months’ worth.”

“They say two months is too long?”

“What can we do?”

Lee Ha-eun smiled brightly at me and said, “Congratulations again. I thought you would do well. “From a long time ago,” he said quietly and went into the school first.

I left the children gathered around me alone.

I shouted to Lee Ha-eun who was far away.

“hey! “Isn’t this a betrayal?”

Lee Ha-eun smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

Well, he still stood there and waited for me for a while.

Even outside of school, I became a celebrity.

Unlike in Ettlingen, in Saebom-dong I started to be called Carnegie Hall.

“uh? you! Carnegie Hall? Right?”

“Ah yes. “It’s Carnegie Hall.”

Something like this.

Thanks to the recent move, it wasn’t as noisy as when I lived in Saebom Apartment.

There are still people who come to my house…

“Wow! Seojin! It went great! right? Carnegie! “You shouldn’t have told my sister in advance!”

······ I wasn’t there, but Seolha-unni came to my house in person today.

“I had no choice because there was an embargo.”

“Hey, what does that have to do with family? Next time, just let your sister know. Understand?”

“······?”

It was Seolha’s older sister who had already become part of the family.

My sister bought me a microphone that looked like a spaceship as a housewarming gift.

When I asked what it was used for, I was told that it was a good microphone to use when recording piano.

Sister Seolha had no hesitation in her actions at our house.

I put on an apron, took over the kitchen on the first floor from my mother, and started grilling LA ribs.

He grills the meat himself, saying he bought it from a good restaurant.

Mother was fidgeting while looking at Sister Seolha, and Sister Seolha said, “Mom, are you okay? Huh! “I’m Seojin’s older sister, right?” he slyly began to prepare the table.

Dinner was very delicious.

Seolha and Suyeon had only seen each other briefly from afar while passing by, but it was only today that they got to have a proper conversation with each other.

Seolha, who was smiling at Suyeon, suddenly said something unexpected.

“Hey, Seojin. “Can I take Sooyeon and live there?”

“Uhm. Wouldn’t that work? “He is actually my younger brother.”

“Then you are also my younger brother. how is it? Sooyeon, do you want to live with your sister? I will play with you 24 hours a day and cook you ribs every day. how is it? Living with me? “It would be nice, right?”

Suyeon was startled by the sound and hid behind me. She is wary as she looks at her older sister Ppaekkom Seolha.

“brother······.”

“huh?”

“Seolha’s eyes… I think he’s telling the truth. “I’m scared because it seems sincere.”

“I know. “I’ll have to be careful from now on.”

“Hmmmm…”

Of course, when Seolha saw us, she laughed even harder.

“really! “Why on earth are you guys so cute?”

Meanwhile.

Something even more interesting was happening in an unexpected place.

In a place I never expected.

* * *

A small piano academy in Saebom-dong.

Lee Ha-eun stopped walking for a moment.

“Teacher, what is going on?”

“I do not know either. “What is it?”

Teacher Park Ha-seon and Lee Ha-eun could not help but tilt their heads.

Breaking through the large crowd of people gathered at the academy, Park Ha-sun and Lee Ha-eun barely managed to get inside.

And people who noticed Park Ha-sun’s identity began to speak out one by one.

“Teacher Park Ha-seon! I’m here to inquire about academy registration! “First of all, it’s three years’ worth!”

“My child is 8 years old. Wouldn’t it be too late to start now?”

“I want to consult for middle school entrance exams! “I heard that this is an academy where only the most elite can come.”

“Can you please watch that lesson just once?”

“I’d like a favor too!”

“I came from far away because I heard there was a teacher who provides education for gifted students!”

“Hey, over there… How about everyone calming down a little? “I have lessons right now…”

People flocked here after hearing CNN’s interview with Han Seo-jin.

Beating out all the numerous piano academies in Seoul.

⌜Saebom Piano Academy⌟.

Become a super prestigious family!

* * *

Philadelphia, USA.

Chloe Laurent was smiling while looking at her smartphone.

It was traditional marketing.

Connecting young geniuses with Carnegie Hall and stimulating people’s curiosity through interviews.

This seemed to be enough to make the child known.

‘This performance will also play a part in that.’

The child’s performance, shown briefly during the interview, was so perfect.

Laurent went to the Carnegie Hall website and made a reservation for the performance.

CNN probably had an effect, as seats were already starting to disappear.

A woman next to Laurent was watching and quietly asked a question.

“Has something good happened?”

“There was a performance I really wanted to see, and I just succeeded in making a reservation. “I almost missed out on a good spot.”

“Pianist Laurent says this is a performance you really want to see? “Can I ask what kind of performance it is?”

“Sure.”

Laurent kindly explained the contents of the performance, and soon after, Philadelphia Orchestra officials were able to safely reserve tickets for the Carnegie Hall performance.

A classic star who will lead the next generation is about to be born.

It was quite enjoyable to be able to see the beginning in person.

Nowadays, many great masters are competing to praise the child’s performance.

Carnegie Hall, which has over 2,000 seats, was losing seats at a faster rate than expected.