Chapter 73

073. Mentoring (2)

Kim Gihoon, who teaches piano at Hwawon Arts High School, leaned against the back of the classroom and moistened his lips.

Today's lecture was particularly significant in this year's mentoring program, so a sense of tension ran through his back.

Indeed, it had been several years since the program began, but this was the first time a minor had come as a mentor, and the first time someone who was not a Hwawon Arts High School alumnus had participated.

It was a chance to confirm how hot a potato Seoho Han was in today's Korean classical music scene.

The vice-principal was delighted, boasting about the school's ability to secure such a talent, and even posted a large photo on the school's homepage. Even the conservative vice-principal had to agree in the end.

Of course, it wasn't all positive.

After all, he was just a second-year high school student. The fact that he was giving a mentoring lecture to his peers was something that could make anyone skeptical.

A mentor should be a senior in a particular field, but is simply being a good performer the same as being able to give advice?

Compared to other mentors who had spent several to over a dozen years in the field, he might be significantly lacking in 'experience.'

"Hmm......"

However, Kim Gihoon vividly remembered the first time he heard Seoho Han's music at a friend, Han Gijun's company.

The way he asked the professional composer and the high school teacher about his composition, his eyes shining.

He was not just an outstanding performer. He also had composing skills and a passion for music that was different from others.

Even Professor Yoon Seokho, whom he had once feared so much, was impressed.

And while 'experience' is certainly a huge asset, 'aptitude' is also important. Just as he had learned a lot from his friend Han Gijun, who was like a friend to him.

So, Kim Gihoon was looking forward to it.

Not just as a show to attract more students and investments to Hwawon Arts High School, but for the students gathered today to learn a lot from Seoho Han.

'For that to happen, the students need to be ready to learn first......'

That's how education works.

The moment the learner closes their ears, nothing is established.

Especially those high-nosed students, how much would they follow Seoho Han, who is around their age or even younger?

......With such doubts, the lecture began.

Seoho Han glanced at the PPT screen and began to speak.

"Classical music is used as a common noun today. And the meaning of 'unchanging' has become stronger than simply calling it 'classical.' Therefore, the act of performing the works of past composers, whom we often call 'masters,' is classified as classical music. Their works are classics and timeless masterpieces."

He lightly defined classical music and flipped to the next slide. The clean layout and concise wording added weight to Seoho Han's explanation.

"I came here today to share with you how to practice such pieces. I won't claim that this is the right way. I think it's best to listen to what this friend thinks, add and subtract it with your own thoughts, and find your own method."

He took a deep breath and moved to the next slide.

This time, a single photo filled the screen.

The person in the photo was a master that anyone who studied classical music would recognize.

Franz Joseph Haydn.

"I think about the composer's life to understand a piece. We need to be able to distinguish between Haydn's Symphony No. 85 'Queen' and his symphonies after No. 100. Does anyone know the difference?"

"The instrumentation and scale changed."

"That's correct. Is there anything else?"

"It seems to have become a bit more lyrical, moving from a more elegant and classical feel."

"That's also somewhat correct. But the key question here is, 'Why?' Why did Haydn change?"

Seoho Han asked questions without hesitation, guiding the discussion in the direction he wanted.

He was no stranger to giving PPT presentations. Had he learned something from SoundFilm?

In any case, Kim Gihoon found the lecture intriguing.

'What other differences could there be?'

Even that was worth considering.

Then, Seoho Han drew a line down the center of the blackboard with a piece of chalk.

"From a broad perspective, we can divide Haydn's works into those composed after Mozart's death and those before, or from another angle, before and after he left the Esterházy family. We can also look at it before and after his great success in England, or with the onset of the war in Europe as a dividing point."

Oh......

Kim Gihoon stroked his mustache and opened his mouth.

A low exclamation escaped his lips.

Not just the differences in the pieces, but the differences in the background.

Indeed, it was fascinating.

Of course, schools do teach about the background and emphasize its importance.

But in the end, students only memorize the fragmented parts necessary for performing the pieces.

Even students at Korea National University of Arts, the top art university in Korea, play 'Skarbo (a mischievous sprite)' without knowing what it exactly is. They don't try to understand it deeply. They just think it's some kind of ghost and play it.

Reflecting on it, it's a strange situation.

It's like a Westerner who doesn't know much about goblins trying to express 'Gold, come out, ding dong.'

Of course, such students can be understood.

In the fierce competition, it's difficult to look at such a broad background one by one.

Time is precious. When your friend is memorizing multiple pieces and refining their technique, who has the time to leisurely study Haydn's life and European history?

But, isn't this kind of time necessary?

Kim Gihoon's lips curled up.

He thought the lecture would just analyze past composers and explain how to practice.

He thought it would be a success if it just motivated the students.

'Is it really that good?'

The lecture flowed smoothly.

He now looked like a seasoned instructor.

And what was truly amazing was......

'What, it's over? The time is already......'

It was interesting.

Even as a teacher, he was completely absorbed.

#

Clunk—!

The drink, about 2% short, fell with a pleasant sound.

Mr. Kim Gihoon reached into the vending machine, took out the can, and handed it to me. Then, with the remaining coins, he went to the adjacent vending machine and got a mixed coffee.

Before the study session began, a break like an intermission.

While opening the can, I glanced at the teacher.

I couldn't help but wonder how today's lecture went.

Just then, the teacher spoke.

"Today's lecture......"

"Yes."

Swallow—.

The sound of me swallowing and the teacher drinking the mixed coffee seemed to happen almost simultaneously.

"You really prepared well. It was very informative."

"......"

It was fortunate, but it was too early to be relieved.

From the teacher's perspective, being informative could mean it was boring for the students.

But it seemed no one was dozing off......

"And most importantly, it was really interesting. The students were also very engaged."

"Really?"

"I can't say who, but when the mentor gave a lecture yesterday, everyone was nodding off. It's understandable, as the mentor only played cello all his life and probably wasn't good at speaking. It's not a private lesson, and there were 30 to 40 students in front of him."

I chuckled and then had a thought.

There was only one cellist among the mentors, right?

It was as good as saying who it was.

Realizing this, the teacher looked noticeably flustered. I pretended not to notice.

"Ahem! Anyway, you did a great job. You could even teach a course like the history of classical music. It felt like you were telling a story about something that happened to you."

Indeed, it was a story I had heard directly from him. I was really telling a story, as someone who lived in that era and knew them.

'But I'll be careful not to tell too personal stories.'

I sipped the can, thinking about the great masters who might be listening.

Then, a thought struck me.

Wait. Telling a story?

That's a good idea.

'Maybe I'll try that style next week?'

......Perhaps, I could naturally share my stories with the students, stories I've never told anyone.

#

After finishing the can, we moved to the practice room.

Unlike the classroom where theory lessons are usually held, this practice room was equipped with instruments, ready for quartets or band rehearsals.

Standing in the hallway with Mr. Kim Gihoon, I saw a student walking by hesitantly. It was a face I couldn't forget.

I smiled and approached her.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Ah! Yes?"

She used polite language even before turning around, aware of my presence.

"Do you remember me?"

"Of course! I do! I remember!"

"To meet you here again, it's really surprising."

"......Yes, it is."

Mr. Kim Gihoon, standing next to me, tilted his head.

"Do you know Ji-a? Did you work at SoundFilm, Ji-a?"

"No, I didn't."

"Then how did you meet?"

"Well......"

She hesitated but slowly explained the whole story. Mr. Kim Gihoon's face showed great interest.

"You went to a competition by chance and congratulated her after seeing her performance?"

"Yes."

"You're quite unique, Seoho......"

"It wasn't the first time I saw her."

"......!?"

I said it casually, and Ji-a's eyes widened as she turned to look at me.

"I saw her about five years ago. At a junior competition. I was surprised to see her again, and she even won that day. So, I went to congratulate her right away."

"Wow, that's even more surprising. It's surprising that you remembered, and that you saw her at the same competition. Life...... indeed, you never know about human connections."

Mr. Kim Gihoon, tilting his head in amazement, and Ji-a, looking dazed as if hit by a hammer.

......Then, the class bell rang.

"Ji-a, the bell rang."

"Yes? Ah, yes, yes!"

Ji-a, snapped back to reality by the teacher's words, hurried into the practice room.

The teacher, smiling, patted my shoulder.

"Creating a relaxed atmosphere is important for the study session, so I'll watch from outside. If I'm not there, it means you're doing so well that I went down."

"Yes."

I nodded and moved.

The students were already sitting in their assigned groups, having arrived early in the morning.

Entering the practice room, I picked up a piece of chalk and wrote the topic on the board.

[The piece you are practicing now]

Then I explained.

"This is today's study session topic. I think it would be good if you freely share the pieces you are practicing, what difficulties you are facing, and what you feel is lacking. So, I'll start with this group."

I approached the group gathered at the front right and sat down. As I was about to join the conversation, a female student spoke with a dissatisfied look.

"Mentor, to be honest, we can tell each other these things."

Her voice was quite loud, and the other groups' students also looked over.

I thought it was actually a good thing.

"Why?"

"It's exposing our strengths and weaknesses."

Pretending not to know, I got the expected answer.

I looked at the student calmly. She also looked at me confidently.

I asked slowly.

"Does hiding everything make you stronger?"

"What?"

"Or should we be more afraid of our growth stopping? Should we be more afraid of not seeing each other's strengths and weaknesses?"

"That's......"

"Can you really learn properly if you hide your skills from each other?"

I might have felt a bit frustrated. I might have been a bit angry.

Competition is destroying everything.

"You need to think about this."

Looking at the student's wavering eyes, I said firmly.

"We are here to learn music, not to play poker."