The Healing Life of a Music Genius - Chapter 137



Only Noblemtl

137 One day in autumn

* * *

A few days later.

I received a call directly from Matthew Rogers, director of ⌜Schmid⌟.

– All tickets have been sold except for 15% of offline tickets that will be sold on-site on the day. It was faster than we thought.

I took a deep breath on the other side of the phone so I wouldn’t be heard.

Actually, I thought it might be a little difficult to sell out tickets for this performance.

Carnegie Hall has a total of three performance halls.

The smallest Weil Recital Hall.

Next is Zankel Hall, a medium-sized performance hall.

And lastly, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Carnegie Hall is Isaac Stern Auditorium.

I was scheduled to perform at the ‘Isaac Stern Auditorium,’ which had a total seating capacity of 2,804.

This time, for my recital organized by ⌜Schmid⌟, the ticket price was set a little cheaper considering my experience and age.

⌜Schmid⌟ and I decided that it was a reasonable price, and we also thought that this would make it easier for audiences to come see this performance.

but.

I couldn’t help but wonder if 2,804 people would really come to see this performance.

The first performance under my name.

The previous gala concert in Ettlingen or the recital I gave at a church in Germany had nothing to do with ‘my name’.

Even if someone had played instead of me, the audience would have gathered that much.

So, I was secretly wondering how ticket sales were going after the CNN report.

Finally, I received a call from Director Rogers.

“Then can we consider that we have passed the critical juncture?”

– ha ha ha. You could say so. But for this performance, wasn’t the name value of the ⌜Schmid⌟ artist, the victory in Ettlingen, CNN reports, and numerous recommendations from great artists used for marketing? In fact, it wasn’t a performance worth worrying about ticket sales itself.

Director Rogers also said that the NewTube video posted by CNN received a better response than expected.

My interview video and performance video.

It seemed like it went viral.

Thanks to this, I felt like I could just focus on practice without having to worry too much.

– Then we will contact you again next time. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or Manager Suho Kim at any time.

“yes. All right. thank you.”

After finishing the phone call, I walked down a familiar street in Saebom-dong to find out a rumor.

A place we arrived at quickly.

As my friend said, ⌜Saebom Piano Academy⌟ was full of people.

Those registering for new academies, those receiving counseling, and those practicing.

When they saw me, they started yelling and screaming, which went on for quite some time.

Teacher Ha-seon Park rolled up her sleeves and controlled the crowd for a while before we were able to have a conversation.

“Tsk tsk. “What on earth is going on?”

“That’s a very good thing. “It’s just that people have finally recognized the true character of Teacher Park Ha-seon.”

Teacher Ha-seon Park smiled and thanked me.

⌜Saebom Piano Academy⌟ has greatly benefited from CNN and the Korean media.

There was a part-time sister in that corner who was solely responsible for answering the phone.

“Thanks to you, I think we need to hire two more assistant teachers. “I’ve been running the academy all by myself.”

“You’re going to be quite busy from now on.”

“Still, Seojin is worse than you. Carnegie Hall performance. Really congratulations.”

Teacher Ha-seon Park gave me a hug a little unexpectedly.

He hugs me tightly and whispers softly.

“You were always a hard-working child. “The teacher knew you would do well.”

“that······.”

The teacher even shed a tear, so I missed the moment to answer. For a moment, I listened to the teacher’s praise as it was.

I suddenly remembered the past days when I learned piano here.

The memory of the day I first pressed the keys as instructed by teacher Ha-seon Park was still vivid.

I said thank you to teacher Ha-seon Park.

and.

“But the news said that ⌜Saebom Piano Academy⌟ is a super prestigious elite academy. “I went to this academy all this time without even knowing it.”

At my little joke, Teacher Park Ha-seon burst out laughing again.

“I know. “I don’t know who made our academy prestigious.”

* * *

Time passed quickly.

I practiced consistently throughout my school life, and often went to see my friends’ concerts.

“Wow!!!”

“The best!!!”

“You’re the best! pretty!”

“Your performance was great!”

“I thought Beethoven showed up!”

We wore Seolwha Presbyterian School uniforms, sat in a row, and immediately cheered after our friend’s performance.

Even though they were the same age, at this point, my friend on stage was my older sister.

As soon as the performance ended, the audience burst into laughter as we heard our shouts clearly.

The performer on stage even blushed slightly after confirming our identities.

Waiting room after the performance.

Lee Ha-eun asked her piano class A classmates to lower the tension a little.

Of course, we weren’t one to blink at such clumsy words.

“Lee Ha-eun. Listen carefully. This is middle school 1. This is support that can only be given when you are young. So, just patiently listen.”

“excuse me···. But Soyeon?”

“huh?”

“Didn’t you call me your sister when the performance just ended? “The voice was just you…?”

“that’s right. We are young! “It was something I couldn’t say now.”

“Strictly speaking, Soyeon, you are the older sister…”

“Does it matter now? But Lee Ha-eun, why have your skills improved so much? Are you practicing hard these days? “It’s so amazing I’m dying!”

“oh! But why are you suddenly rushing at me?”

“That’s because you did a good job!”

Baek So-yeon holds Lee Ha-eun in her arms and pats her for a good job today.

Friends laughing.

We always made a lot of noise whenever the performance ended.

As my concert experience increased, my friends’ skills also improved quickly.

The extent of the growth was visible.

and.

I guess that was the same for me too.

‘I’ve been hearing more these days that my playing has improved.’

While practicing for the midterm exam, I received a lot of questions from my friends.

Each time, I answered without hesitation as much as I knew.

“however······. “Do you understand what Seojin is saying now?”

“no! at all!”

“Could you please stop talking so brightly? Rather, Seojin seems to live in a different world than us. “The interpretation of a song is this complicated.”

“I guess that’s why such good performances come out. Even the teachers looked very surprised today.”

“that’s right. “The teachers also opened their eyes wide when they saw Seojin play today.”

“right? right? “I heard Seojin’s skills have improved a lot!”

My always cheerful friends always liked my playing.

However, no matter how much I took the piano skills test and practiced, there was something I couldn’t complete.

The cheers from the audience that could be felt on stage.

As time passed, those memories were gradually fading.

Thanks to this, the thought of wanting to go on stage quickly has often occurred to me these days.

“Isn’t that the life of a musician? Practicing silently for the stage, receiving cheers from the audience on stage. “You are doing well.”

After hearing what I said, Manager Park Hoon came to a light conclusion.

“I think that’s why I practice harder.”

“okay. That’s enough. “Did I say this performance program will be about 1 hour and 30 minutes long?”

“yes. Including the encore song, it will be about 1 hour and 40 minutes.”

“It’s not easy. “For a recital, you have to fill the entire stage by yourself, right?”

“But since the venue is a performance venue, my expectations are higher.”

Manager Park Hoon chuckles.

“I guess that’s true too. It’s Carnegie Hall… “It’s a dream stage for artists.”

Currently, the contract with ⌜Wolgwang⌟ has completely ended.

To be precise, the form of the contract has changed.

From now on, I decided to work with ⌜Moolgwang⌟ only when I made a song and when I wanted to.

For me, a much more free form of contract has been created.

Even the profit distribution with ⌜Moonlight⌟ became a little more favorable to me, so it seemed like there would be no more contract terms than this.

When I asked Manager Park Hoon if it was really okay to do this, he answered very easily.

“Because I thought it would be comfortable for you. You’re probably busy with the Carnegie case right now, and I don’t think you’ll like being tied down even after that. And above all…”

Manager Park Hoon approached me and continued speaking softly.

“I’m in full charge of you at ⌜Moonlight⌟, right? Thanks to this, my right to speak within the company has become considerably stronger. So I tried it once and it was successful, right?”

Then he tapped my arm.

“I think I was able to make music comfortably thanks to the manager. Thank you for always caring.”

“What between you and me? “Are the preparations for the recital going well?”

“It’s okay. “It seems more relaxed than I thought.”

“Good. Go to America and clearly show people your performance. “It is time to let people know that there are musicians of this caliber in Korea.”

The manager didn’t say much other than cheering me on.

He never urged me to make a song quickly or asked when a new song would be released.

All he gave me was advice to continue making ‘my music’.

A person who is always consistent.

I felt truly grateful for that.

* * *

There was one more consistent person around me.

A person muttering while looking at the fallen leaves in front of the yard.

“It seems like time goes by so quickly. “It’s already fall.”

This was Han Su-yeon, who was completely immersed in fall.

I asked a question while barely suppressing my laughter.

“But Sooyeon, why do you think time passes so quickly?”

“brother. I’m already 6 years old this year. But there isn’t much left of this year. I’ll be 7 years old next year. “If that happens, I might be entering elementary school soon.”

Suyeon looks at me with bright eyes.

I am······.

I agreed with my younger brother’s words.

“Has it already been that long?”

“therefore. Ugh. “It seems like it was just yesterday that I was entering kindergarten.”

“I know. Now that I think about it, my brother turns 15 next year. “I’m in my second year of middle school.”

“······.”

Suyeon’s eyes are getting bigger as she looks at me.

“You’ve already spent half of your teenage years. “For some reason, he grew a lot taller.”

“is it?”

“huh! Maybe you should put the key sticker on it, not me. “Oppa, do you want to come see me for a moment?”

Su-yeon stands up from her seat and extends her hand to measure the height difference between me and me.

“Oppa, when did you get so big? It was so big! If things continue like this, he might become an adult soon.”

“I guess I’ll become an adult faster than Sooyeon, right?”

“But what do you want to do when you grow up?”

“well? “Wouldn’t she want to push Suyeon on the swing, like now, while she waits to see when Suyeon can go on the swing?”

“oh! really?”

As soon as I finish speaking, Sooyeon runs to the swing.

I immediately pushed the swing Suyeon was on.

My mother, who was listening to our story from afar, made the face of a Tibetan fox and made a tsk sound.

“Those little kids are wasting their time. “Compared to your mother, you are a long way off.”

As fall came, the atmosphere in our house changed a lot.

The persimmons that Suyeon had been waiting for every day were finally ripening.

My father got some persimmons from somewhere, and I started picking persimmons as best I could.

“brother. A little further to the left! little bit more! done! good job!”

Sooyeon, who was clinging to my back and controlling me, ended up picking a basket of persimmons she wanted.

My family went up to the roof of our house.

Although there was a cool breeze blowing, it was still worth spending time outside.

Su-yeon looked carefully at the pickled persimmons and chose one.

He wiped it with his fern hand, cut it in half, and handed it to me.

“This is the biggest one. “Try eating it first.”

I took a big bite of the persimmon that Suyeon gave me.

It tasted sweet… but it was bitter.

Since persimmons are grown at home, this may be unavoidable.

So I told her this story, and Suyeon tilted her head.

“But what is astringency?”

“well. It’s difficult to explain accurately. If you’re curious, try one. “You will understand right away.”

“Umm. okay?”

Suyeon, who was very curious, took a small bite of Hongsi.

and.

“Wham! brother! “There’s something stuck to your tongue!”

“That’s the bitter taste.”

“Isn’t this delicious? Wow! This doesn’t taste good! no way······. “Did I trick you?”

“Tsk tsk. no. “When you see that, you say it’s bitter.”

“okay? however······. My tongue is paralyzed? I can’t taste it! It’s a big deal! “What if I can’t taste the lemon candy in the future?”

Our family burst into laughter for a while thanks to Sooyeon sticking out her tongue and not knowing what to do.

The day of departure quickly arrived.

Since this schedule was held during the semester, I went to the Seolwha Yejung administration office in the morning to obtain separate permission.

I gave the relevant documents I received from ⌜Schmid⌟ to teacher Yang Woo-ju, and he looked at me with a pleased expression.

“really. I had no idea that Korea would produce a performer who could stand in Carnegie Hall at your age. The teacher is so proud. “I have to show off a great performance from America?”

I was only able to leave the teacher’s office after receiving compliments from numerous teachers in the teacher’s office.

For reference, my friends were preparing something more.

Big words were written on the placard that covered the entire back of the piano department’s A class.

– (Kyeong) Han Seo-jin, born in Class A of the Piano Department at Seolwha Arts High School. Your performance will shine at Carnegie Hall! (axis) –

“congratulations!”

“Do well and come back!”

“Let’s take a picture first! picture!”

I had to take over 100 photos in front of the placard that my Class A friends had put together.

It turned out that the instigators of this placard were Lee Ha-eun, Baek So-yeon, and Shin Ju-won.

They were busy laughing while looking at me.

“hey! Is this all a memory too? When will I take so many pictures with you?”

“The placards are not expensive, but if you want to get your money’s worth, you have to print this much. “Nothing.”

“Smile! Smile more! Only then will it be worth buying the placard! You are a professional performer now, right? “Show your professional spirit!”

“······Ahahaha.”

Anyway, it was an example of a crazy story.

This trip to the United States was planned to be much shorter than the last trip to Germany.

Since it was not a competition that required several performances, there was no need for a long schedule.

Thanks to this, I decided to take Suyeon, who was diligently attending kindergarten, too.

“Wow!!! Of course, oppa is the best! I wanted to see your performance too! Actually, I couldn’t speak… thank you so much!”

“It was nothing. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

If not now, when would I take Sooyeon around like this?

It was clear that even if Suyeon entered elementary school, it would become increasingly difficult.

That’s why I wanted to work hard together even now.

Su-yeon smiled brightly at me and said, “After I make a lot of money, I will take you on many trips later.” Got it?” she said, giving her a rant.

“really?”

“of course! “This is how much we have between siblings.”

‘Hmm.’

But no matter how much you are brother and sister, shouldn’t you make the calculations clearly?

I showed thoroughness by tying my little finger with Suyeon, stamping, signing, and even making copies.

“As expected, he’s my brother. Always meticulous.”

“This is basic.”

The notarization was done by my mother.

“Tsk tsk. Anyway. “We get along well.”

In addition, my father and mother decided to go to the United States together this time.

I heard that my father’s publishing company and novel work had some free time, and my mother decided to get a part-time job at a flower shop.

Since this Carnegie Hall performance was quite meaningful, it seemed like they went to great lengths to adjust the schedule.

Three days later, late evening.

We took a car to Incheon Airport.

My younger brother was so excited that he made a long speech about my performance in the car.

“Hmm! Even though I’ve been like this, you heard me practicing in the room next to you the most, right? That’s why I know it well.”

He said.

Before entering the airport, Sooyeon took something out of her bag.

He said that he had prepared something with his mother without my knowledge.

“sunglasses?”

“huh! My brother is a celebrity now. I heard from Seolha that something like this would be needed. From now on, I will take care of you. For reference, I have mine too. look.”

Sooyeon puts on sunglasses as soon as she finishes speaking.

That look was quite cute.

“how is it? Seems like a good idea, right?”

“I guess you have no idea who it is?”

“Ahem! Is that so? Then, brother, try writing it quickly too. ruler!”

After putting on the sunglasses Suyeon gave us, our family entered Incheon Airport.

As expected, several reporters were waiting for me. Manager Kim Soo-ho was here in advance as promised and was controlling them.

After a brief interview with reporters.

Suyeon held my hand and took a step forward.

“Thanks to you, I’ve been to Incheon Airport a few times, right? Now I can also provide guidance. All you have to do is follow me. For reference, that is the departure hall. Of course, you know it well too. Hi-Hi.”

Since the last time I went to Germany, I quietly followed my younger brother, who had been calling himself my manager.

One fall day, a few days before the Carnegie Hall performance.

My brother and sister entered the departure hall, stylishly wearing identical sunglasses.