Читать книгу PRACTICE IS KEY! - Gaby DeGroat - Страница 2

Keys Piano School is a couple of blocks from my apartment. It’s the most prestigious piano school in the city. Gifted young pianists dream of auditioning and taking lessons here. Only a small percent of hopefuls make the Keys cut. Some of the Keys School staff call us piano champions. I’ll take that title any day! The tuition is high, so some families have to apply for a scholarship.

The School is easy to find. The brownstone building has a shiny, black piano painted on its façade and big planters with flowers, shrubs, and small maple trees surround the school’s entrance. It’s easy to find because it’s the best-looking, best-maintained brownstone on the block. The inside of the school looks amazing too. It’s got white marble floors, lighted paintings all around, and statues of famous pianists and composers. The place screams “music money”! Even our cafeteria is always clean, and it smells good. Since Keys Schools accepts kids from other countries, we have an American and an international menu. Some of the food doesn’t look bad, but I only like pizza. My mom says I have a sensitive stomach. She usually makes me cheese sandwiches or fruits and salad for lunch.

Seriously, I’m proud to be a student here, but I’m not proud of the spoiled, conceited way I acted. I probably owe everyone an apology for being a brat, but I’m not there yet. Fortunately, my shocking loss to Michael might be a blessing in disguise. It means that I need to change my attitude and strategy. I’ve had an enormous chunk of humble pie, and it’s been hard to swallow. The good news is, I’m still a prodigy pianist. From now on, though, I’ll be the practicing prodigy I need to be. Also, maybe if I’m nicer and less conceited, I’ll have some real fans and friends. Anyway, next year, I’ll practice for that gold medal and move on to the national piano championships. Then, I’ll be a champion and live up to my full potential. I know that’ll make my mom happy. Right now, she’s my one and only fan.

Dr. Philip Barnes is the founder and the principal of Keys School. He’s a famous concert pianist and composer. Dr. Barnes isn’t married and doesn’t have kids, so we are his family. He’s very tall, and he’s in amazing shape. He’s a vegetarian and a runner. I like my principal. He’s a good guy, and he’s never been mean to me. He asks me if I’m working hard and practicing. I always say yes, and that is a lie. He challenges and encourages his students all the time. Sometimes, he plays the piano for us, and he is a genius pianist.

Dr. Barnes is friendly and calm too. He has a lot of suggestions and rules for his students. He holds pep rallies in the auditorium to keep us on target and in tune.

His pep speeches are about his goals for us. “I expect you to work hard and practice every day! You are students at Keys School because you are the finest young pianists in the country,” he proudly announces. “Please don’t become lazy or too relaxed but keep practicing and soaring. Commit to your music and practice the piano every day. You all know that practice is crucial, and it’s key to your success here at Keys School.” This is his constant, consistent message.

I don’t like Keys School’s pep rallies, so I usually don’t go to them. The kids get loud and out of control. After the assemblies, Dr. Barnes orders pizza for the entire school. Everyone meets in the cafeteria, and kids push and shove to get to the front of the line. Everyone’s totally out of control, and it’s like the whole school’s gone pizza crazy. The Keys School cafeteria staff always acts friendly and happy. They settle everyone down by offering stars and rewards to the quietest, best behaved tables. In my regular school, the cafeteria staff blow whistles, yell, shove, and push kids around. Right before the pep rally is over, I usually rush to the cafeteria for my pepperoni slice. Then, I rush back to an empty practice room, so I can eat my pizza in peace. From now on, though? Trust me. I’ll be at those pep rallies, front and center, screaming and cheering like the loudest, proudest prodigy pianist ever! I’ll even eat my pizza in the cafeteria with the rest of the loud, and crazy, piano playing, pizza-loving kids Keys School kids.