Opus 1 Music Studio stands out as a nurturing environment where many of our exceptional students embark on their musical journeys from a young age, encouraged by their parents to embrace learning an instrument. This narrative is demonstrated by Harry, a dedicated and long-time piano student. “I have been studying at Opus 1 for almost ten years now. I started taking private lessons when I was five or six years old, and I am 15 now. My dad was the one who wanted me to learn piano, but after a while I started enjoying it more and I grew into it. It got to a point where my parents did not have to ask me to play anymore, I wanted to play for myself, ” he explained.
Over the years, Harry has participated in numerous recital performances at Opus 1, and he captivated the audience with his rendition of the first movement of Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata during the 2023 Summer Recital. This is the performance he is most proud of: “That piece is really difficult, but also enjoyable to play, and I think that performance was probably my greatest achievement at Opus 1 so far. I feel like all my lessons, and all my work with Teacher Theresa led me to that point. It was like walking up a staircase, and seeing each step that I took before I got to the top,” he explained.
As Harry matured, he noticed a shift in his perspective about performing. “Some of my favorite memories from Opus 1 come from performing in the recitals. When I was a little kid, it was all about having fun, and it was just me playing the piano. Now, I get really nervous to perform because I am very aware of the audience. It makes it more challenging, but also more rewarding when the performance is complete,” he explained.
Beyond the stage, Harry's achievements extend to his performance in his most recent ABRSM exams, where he passed with Merit. This achievement is a testament to his commitment and preparation, which is something he attributes to learning from his fathers approach to planning things out. His disciplined approach to piano has translated into success in other areas of his life as he exemplifies these methods beyond the studio. “Planning the same way I normally do for my ABRSM exams has actually helped me a lot in school. When I first went to highschool, I was kind of stressed out. There were a lot of things for me to do, and a lot of changes. After I started planning out my studying and homework assignments I was much more relaxed and successful,” he explained.
Amidst his piano studies at Opus 1 Music Studio, Harry has also learned the importance of perseverance, and authenticity, “The first lesson I have learned from taking piano lessons is not to give up. If I feel like I want to stop, or quit, I tell myself ‘don’t do it’ because eventually I will get to the final product. It will be much more refined, and sound how I want it to sound if I keep practicing and working hard. The other lesson I have learned is that I do not always have to strive for perfection, or to be like a master pianist. I can strive to be like them, but I don’t push myself to be perfect. I accept that I am myself, and have my own style of playing, and I am still learning,” he explained.