Hello, I am too excited to think so excuse me if I mess up and you don't understand a part of what I am saying or I make mistakes, it's hard to speak right now. I'm blown away by what just happened.
First I lost the support of most of my family when I dropped out from university this year at Year 3 to study piano and solfege in preparation for what happened now. I was insulted multiple times indirectly by being told I am not good enough and piano is not for me and I will just make a fool of myself even appearing at the exams. I was also disinherited by my grandmother and I could have used that support since I have nowhere to live of my own in the new city and she has a flat there and I was living with her at that time. She basically made me return the keys to the flat and pack my stuff which I gladly did because I felt offended and I believed I can do this.Remember I've been talking about taking exams? Those were not the grade exams everyone is taking although I will start doing that from next year too, starting from grade 5 ABRSM piano. (yeah I am that crazy).
This week after so much work I sat admittance exams for the music conservatory in my city (it was called a conservatory for long years as it was a chapter of the conservatory in our capital Sofia but some 15 years ago they became independant from the Sofia Conservatory and they switched the name to "National Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts". I did not try for Piano Performance Art as I know my capabilities, and 1 year is not a realistic time to prepare for something like this, it would have been a waste of time even trying the repertoire required for it.
I chose Pedagogy of Music with Piano, which has lower requirements for the piano exam.
I sat a theory exam (wrote about it) which I passed with flying colors, then I was allowed to continue onto the practical exam which is piano.
I was really concerned about my grade there as my teacher said I shouldn't expect more than 50% on it since the examination board consists of three people, all exceptional pianists and teachers and everyone will have their own opinion about my playing, some might not like it.
Imagine my surprise when I got home today and they called me to tell me I have a score of 5.25 out of 6. (likely because they asked me to sing a melody at first sight and I couldn't do it, and it's a part of the exam)Anyway, I walked into the room where I was greeted warmly by the professors from the examination board and by the a beautiful Yamaha grand, which I absolutely loved playing, it made such sweet sounds and I have never heard Bach sound this beautiful. In fact I have never ever before played this good, but I guess the adrenaline helped a lot, I was concentrated and nothing could break this concentration, it was just me and the piano. I made no errors in both my pieces except for a wrong chord in the right hand with my second piece (one of the more accessible Bach preludes, and a Stephen Heller etude, the one I posted in our recital but much improved since then and in good tempo)
So as of October (hopefully I can get enough money to pay the first tuition), I will be a full-time student at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv as a Music Pedagogy and Piano major!!! Personally what I think is that they really liked my passion for music and although I am not great they decided to give me a chance. Just wait and see the progress I make in the next 5 years, it will be an amazing journey even more amazing than it has been so far.
Looks like, we adult beginners, can do some amazing stuff too. Now if someone tries to tell me again you absolutely need to be a child when starting piano, I can just smile :P
Now to tell you a little bit about my piano teacher once I enroll. I will see her once a week for at least 4 years and I am sure with her guidance I will reach a good level of musicianship. She is one of Bulgaria's best pianists and she has studied in France (L’Ecole Normale in Paris). She was the first musician in Bulgaria to introduce works by List, Debussy, Satti, Messian. One of her early teachers was a student of
Rubinstein called
Dubravka TomÅ¡iÄ.
Time for a well deserved rest! After which I have to begin with a lot of etudes to gain better technique, I will need it where I am going. I was told I will likely be given repertoire that is beyond me during the 1st year but if I work hard I might be able to break through and I will be alright from then on. My new teacher is very good at helping pianists play with proper technique and with relaxed hands, she can teach me to play effortlessly which will eliminate most injuries caused by improper piano playing.