Something's Changed

Today was one of the best days...........ever.

Piano camp has started.  I was very excited.  I'd met "Dr. Waldstein" before.  In fact, I participated in a master class with him.  He's Dr. Terminator's old teacher from graduate school.  He's phenomenal, and a Beethoven expert(hence the name Dr. Waldstein- it's a famous sonata from Beethoven).  He's so nice, and very inspirational.  Naturally, I was excited about his friend from Chicago that was also coming down.  I'll call her Dr. Minuet.  You'll see why.

I had no idea that Dr. Minuet would be so fantastic.  I can tell that music is her real passion- her life.  I've never met anyone who could explain things like she can.  I asked her about how she learned how to put emotion into music.  Her response was the same as Renee Fleming's when she was asked the same.   "You must learn to live.  You must read, you must experience the different cultures.  You must think.  You must show the audience what the music is about."  Wow.  Just wow.  A light bulb went off.  Something just clicked.  And an hour later, sitting at the piano, I felt something different.  Something very different.  Something I've been searching for.  I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it's different.  It's a lifestyle.

I saw a sign in one of the rooms.  "A work of art is the result of a great struggle."  So true, but the struggle is worth the work of art.  I think something changed today.

As all this is going on in the space of a few hours, a recurring thought is going through my head.  To be able to study with masters of the art like this would be absolutely life-changing, but to go off on my own, to be independent in 4, 5, or even 6 years?  It's a scary thought, and I wonder if the quality of instruction is worth the stress.  I'm not sure.

The professors are inspiring, and I can't wait for tomorrow.  I hope to make the most of my time.  Something is changing, and I'm going to find out what.