Chapter 74

074. Mentoring (3)

The children, who had been hesitant at first, began to open up and play their practice pieces one by one.

In layman's terms, they were laying their cards on the table. Some even moved to the piano in front and played, while Han Seoho watched and took notes.

After the performance, the groups discussed and provided feedback on the performance, reaching a consensus. Then, they cross-checked with the notes Han Seoho had written and discussed again.

It was clearly in line with the study direction proposed by the school. But something felt different. How to put it...

'The sharp edges are completely gone.'

It was still intense, but the direction had shifted from competing with the person next to them to focusing on the music.

When their performance was criticized, their faces still turned red, but they soon brightened up.

As the discussion continued, they gradually realized what they needed to improve on.

Even without Han Seoho, the children gathered here were all outstanding prodigies, the future of Korean classical music.

So, by expanding their thinking among themselves, many problems were easily resolved.

And when a similar problem arose next time,

They would have the ability to solve it on their own.

"......It seems there's no problem."

No, there shouldn't be. At this level.

After watching for a long time, Kim Gihoon left the ongoing study session.

His steps were light. The mentoring he had been both looking forward to and worried about was going exceptionally well.

Honestly, he wanted to stay there, but he had a mountain of work to do downstairs. It was busier than during the winter break.

Eventually, when he arrived at the faculty office, a few remaining teachers greeted him as if it were good news.

"I was just about to go up and check. Is it over?"

"No."

"Huh? So, the study is still going on?"

"That's right."

Seeing the teachers' expressions turn gloomy in real-time, Kim Gihoon smiled.

The head, who had been watching, scratched his almost bald head and spoke.

"Are they just playing around? I'm worried they might say something bad in the program satisfaction survey."

"There's absolutely no need to worry. I was just up there admiring the whole time."

This made the other teachers look at him with interest.

"Is it that good? I'm curious."

"Can we observe next week?"

"Oh, that's a good idea."

Seeing this, Kim Gihoon smiled and said as he headed to his desk.

"Go ahead and leave. I have a lot of work left, so I'll finish up and go."

"Really?"

"Yes, it's fine."

Naturally, no one objected.

"Then, Mr. Kim, I'll go ahead and leave."

The teachers left one by one. Even the head, who had a drinking appointment, said it was a good thing and disappeared.

Sitting down, Kim Gihoon finished his work.

He created the program evaluation items and checked them one by one, imagining himself as a student.

Was it easy to understand the explanation? ...Very much so.

Did the lecture content match the topic well? ...Very much so.

Did they answer questions appropriately and proceed with the mentoring? ...Very much so.

...After filling out the evaluation form, Kim Gihoon leaned back in his chair and chuckled.

"It seems the mentor with the highest satisfaction is already decided, isn't it...?"

#

The mentoring that started at 1 PM ended after 4 PM.

I was surprised myself. I didn't realize time had passed so quickly.

Did Haydn feel this way when he came to the castle to talk about music with me whenever he had time?

When I left, I might have had a face filled with lingering joy.

'I want to prepare more and talk about more things.'

With that, I left Hwawon Arts High School, looking forward to the next week.

I headed straight to SoundFilm Studio.

As soon as I arrived, the employees bombarded me with questions.

"How was it? How was it?"

"Was it good? I heard the students at the arts high school are very sensitive."

They even mentioned a drama about an arts high school, where students killed each other over grades...

Then, the team leader, Park, who was standing at the back, shook his head.

"They are sensitive, prickly, but it varies from person to person. There are also arts high school students with round and good personalities. Look at me."

"......You don't seem like one, though?"

"But, I am round. I've gained some weight lately."

"Phew!"

Laughing with the employees, I shared my thoughts.

"It was really fun."

This made the director, Kim Yunju, who had been laughing, nod at me with a tear in her eye.

"Of course, you'd find music interesting."

"Yeah, we knew you'd do well. Your articulate speech is a known fact."

"Our CEO said Seoho was too mature even as a child, which was a concern."

"That's why his nickname was 'old soul.'"

Ha ha ha...

Come to think of it, I haven't seen my father. He said he was at the company earlier?

"Where's Dad?"

"In the main recording studio. Oh, by the way, you should go there too. There's something you'll be happy to see."

Park's words made me tilt my head.

Happy to see?

After thinking for a moment, I had an idea. A smile crept onto my face.

Smiling at Park, who seemed to have guessed, I headed to the main recording studio.

When I opened the door, I couldn't see my father. I turned the corner and saw him sitting in front of a grand piano.

'He's here.'

The grand piano, standing majestically in one corner of the spacious performance room, was a new model permanently lent by Steinway for recording.

Since the monitor speakers were off, I couldn't hear the sound inside the booth. I silently watched my father play.

And, absurdly, I thought:

The back view is so familiar.

Of course, it was. It's my father. It's natural to be familiar...

"......"

I suddenly wondered what piece he was playing, but I didn't want to disturb him, so I waited a moment.

It felt like a silent movie, so I imagined the music on top of the scenes that came to mind.

How long had it been?

My father finished playing and noticed me.

As I approached, he gave an awkward smile.

"When did you come in?"

"Just now. How's the piano?"

"Hey, the new model is good. The seat height is easy to adjust."

"How about the sound?"

"Compared to the one in your studio... Try it. The sound and touch are different."

"Wow, really. The sound seems brighter, and the touch is lighter."

"It does fit any piece better this way."

We chatted about the piano.

Once the conversation started, the music talk between father and son continued without noticing the time.

After a while, my father scanned the recording studio with a serious expression.

"There are only a few days left."

I knew what he meant. The recording for my album.

"That's right."

"Since you made it so well and will play it well, I'm not worried... But..."

His eyes still showed concern.

He seemed to be worried about what would happen after. No matter how well the album is made, if no one listens to it, it can't be called a success.

The pressure is different from film music.

This was a big challenge for my father too.

"I'm not worried. Dad will help me well."

I lifted the burden slightly from my shoulder.

This made his expression a bit lighter.

"Let's make a groundbreaking album. One that will shock the classical world."

#

- Wow... I was surprised. I listened to it on the recommendation of people around me, and I didn't expect it to be this good. I thought it would be just New Age music, but it's traditional classical.

-I'm a classical performer living in San Francisco. I was introduced by friends and was shocked. All these pieces were composed by one person?

-Actually, just looking at the works, it's hard to tell if Brinner is one person or a team. But considering the monthly output, it seems more likely to be the latter.

-I never thought I'd be listening to classical music on SoundCloud...

-What's impressive about Brinner is that the quality of the pieces is not at the level of a beginner. The courage to freely stream their best works is remarkable. It could be a critique of the classical world, which is becoming more and more exclusive!

"......"

I scanned my channel on SoundCloud, which had grown too big.

At first, I polished and uploaded pieces that didn't meet my standards, but as more people listened and waited, it seems to have taken on its own path.

It's a strange feeling.

The fact that interpretations of the pieces are varied, regardless of my intentions, isn't really a problem. That's another power of music.

What's odd is that people are increasingly calling me Brinner.

It feels like I exist as Brinner in this space.

Thinking about this, I can't neglect this side even with the album recording approaching.

"I'll upload one piece and prepare for the recording."

Muttering this plan, I sat at my desk.

Which piece should I choose?

I flipped through the sheet music. The layers of staff paper were fragrant with the scents of the moments when I composed them.

After some thought, I picked up a sheet.

"......This one will do."

#

Olivia, the communication manager at Royal Classic.

She arrived in Korea last night and greeted the morning in her hotel room.

Wiping her damp hair with a towel, she stepped out of the shower and checked her vibrating phone on the table. It was a call from a former colleague (?).

"Betty? What's up at this hour?"

-It's the perfect time to call.

"Ah...?"

Olivia checked the time and chuckled. The time difference made it difficult to call at other times.

"Are you well prepared?"

-Almost. But, Brinner uploaded another piece today.

"Really? Wow, how many pieces does this person upload in a month?"

-Exactly. And the piece is really good. I ended up opening a bottle of wine.

"It must have really impressed you?"

Betty was a famous classical music critic. Opening a bottle of wine was her signature phrase, used only for pieces she found very satisfying.

"Let me listen. I'm curious."

-You must listen. You must. This time, it seems to be recorded very roughly, which makes it feel even better. It's like the composer just scribbled the music on the keyboard as it came to mind.

"The piece is fresh?"

-Oh, yes. That's exactly it. I like that expression. Now that you're not a critic, I can use it, right?

"Sure."

-Okay!

Olivia chuckled at the lively voice.

-By the way, isn't this person being looked for by your company?

"Who? Brinner?"

-Yeah, yeah.

Tuk, tuk. Olivia, still drying her hair, replied.

"Not only us, but many places are looking for them. But SoundCloud is very sensitive about personal information, and even when we send messages, there's no response. There's no other activity online under the same ID."

-They must be very secretive.

"Or maybe it's multiple people."

-That's why I'm thinking of writing a column about it. Everyone is curious. Who is Brinner? One person or a team?

"If you find out, let me know. I'll tell the company."

Betty, who readily agreed, subtly changed the topic.

-By the way, today, right? Meeting Han Seoho?

"Yeah, today is the first day of recording."

-So, you'll be watching the entire recording process?

"Seems so. The company is subtly anxious. Since it's an album we're only distributing, I can't play the pieces for the team. Ultimately, my judgment is crucial... But it seems our team leader Heather trusts me. Assigning both Professor Celine and Han Seoho to me... Maybe because I'm a former critic."

"So, I need to be even more critical. If I say it's good and there's a quality issue later, it could be a big problem."

The risk isn't huge since SJ Entertainment, a major Korean company, is supporting it, but the company still needs to minimize risks in the shrinking classical market. If the album's quality is deemed poor, they'll take various measures.

For example, they might reduce the distribution scale...

Thinking this far ahead, Olivia suddenly realized how much time had passed and hurriedly moved.

"Hey, I need to go. I'll be late. Talk to you later!"

-Okay! Let me know how the pieces are when you come back!

#

The company is busy from morning.

The tuner came to check the piano, and a representative from the SJ Cultural Foundation came to prepare the Guarneri.

With the performers and professional engineers coming and going, it's a whirlwind.

I locked myself in the studio for a while to prepare various things.

I did the final practice, reviewed the sheet music, did the final practice again, looked at the sheet music, and did the final...

"Ha ha."

The tension is building, and my breath, which I let out in a laugh, is hot.

I came out of the booth and plopped down on the sofa.

Everything feels exciting, but today is especially so.

It's like the first time I played the piano, the first time I played the violin, the first time I stepped on stage.

I always felt that Brinner's love for music was great, but today I felt it for myself.

"Seoho, are you ready?"

I heard Director Kim Yunju's voice from outside the door and got up to head to the main recording studio.

It was time to button up the first album, the first button.