Done with the ABRSM grade 2 exam which result was quite a ‘betrayal’ to all those hard works, months, weeks, and hours spent in practicing all the pieces made me decide to have a break from anything related to the exam.
I refused proceeding to the next grade. I wanted her to refine her basic techniques more and go easy with practice sessions after months of high tension ones yet without satisfying result.
Asked the teacher to have a break and learn any other pieces which were more pleasant and enjoyable to learn.
But, up to 3 months, instead of progress (that I expect), we turned out to be slacking more. The pieces given from the teacher were far from appealing, which is understandable since Russian method is not famous for being interesting.
‘Interesting’ : famous little pieces from Bach, Beethoven or Mozart which are more familiar to the ears, easier pattern to read, and looks cool to be released on my social media feed.
There’s this guilty feeling inside when I know for sure I’ve been taking the easy way and let her being too ‘lazy’ on her daily practice.
Until I re-read another old book of Amy Chua. Once read this before piano becomes the part of our daily life and I thought this woman was crazy and there’s no way I wanted to be like her.
But, reading it now, with different circumstances and many major changes in daily life since the beginning of the pandemic, I couldn’t help thinking how much truths exist in many lines that she wrote.
Although we’re nothing close in every aspects compared to Chua and her daughters, but many things were so related and it all made sense.
A month ago, her dad bought the new grade 3 syllabus and I only took a glance at it then put it on the drawer right away without a slight of interest.
Out of the blue, one afternoon when I was done with the chapter “how we make it to Carnegie Hall”, something triggered me.
I took the book out of drawer, trying almost all the pieces inside and ended up practicing for more than an hour, which is much more rare than having rainbow in Jakarta’s sky.
Decided all the pieces we would practice for the exam while drilling some parts of the song.
Suddenly, I feel ready for ABSRSM exam season 3.
Starting is one thing. But, maintaining the spirit, keeping the flame burning, those were totally in a different league.
Resuming exam prep means we would also resume those high tension mornings full of arguing, high-pitch voices, and so many more in our daily life.
It’s surely not pleasant, but, it means we’re working towards something. It’s obviously better than staying at the lazy zone.
Bismillah. Sloth out, Tiger in.
A Penny for My Pensieve 