Please, come home and practice the piano

Chapter 1280 500. EPTA Settles in Chengdu! Four Steel Units Draw Their Swords

After being suspended from school for half a month, A-Liu quickly noticed the changes at the campus.

The most obvious thing is that there is a plaque that looks quite high-end hanging on the display stand.

【European Piano Teachers Association】

The plaque also features an embossed miniature gold grand piano, which looks exquisite.

While Xiao Bei and Qiao Zhizhi were in class, Wang Xiaohu explained the origin of the sign to A Liu in detail.

"So awesome?"

After hearing this, Ah Liu felt proud. "According to your logic, doesn't the president's unit have the right to do whatever it wants?"

"Big brother," Wang Xiaohu said speechlessly, "what do you mean by lawless? It just means they have a lot of power and can set up grading exams on their own."

Ah Liu shook his head: "No, no, no, have you ever heard of teachers being able to take exams? It's always been only students who take exams!"

Wang Xiaohu: "That's true."

Ah Liu: "If teachers can take exams to rank teachers, does that mean teachers can do whatever they want?"

Wang Xiaohu laughed: "Are you reciting tongue twisters? The teacher is giving the teacher a certification exam, so teacher, teacher..."

Ah Liu snorted: "What about the teacher?"

Wang Xiaohu: "The teacher is awesome."

The two boys started talking and soon started to look really cocky.

However, their arrogance quickly faded.
-
After class, Xiao Bei and Qiao Zhizhi swaggered into the fourth music room.

Overall, the two students did a pretty good job in class and received praise from the teacher on several occasions.

Ang Lee knows that Wang Xiaohu has been practicing quite well recently, but it is still very commendable that Xiao Liu was able to maintain his level during the suspension of classes.

"That's enough for today. Let's make the most of our time practicing these next two days. We'll start preparing the program for the summer camp's opening concert next week."

Wang Xiaohu: "Teacher, what level am I taking this year?"

Ang Lee: "Are you still going to take the exam?"

Wang Xiaohu: "Take the test!"

Ang Lee thought for a moment and said, "Okay, let's continue with last year's exam."

Ah Liu chuckled and said, "Teacher, does that mean my certificate this year will be the kind with gold trim?"

Ang Lee was bewildered: "What Phnom Penh?"

Ah Liu: "It's that EPTA certificate."

Ang Lee: "You want to take the EPTA exam?"

Ah Liu was confused: "Otherwise what? Aren't you the president now? I definitely won't take the previous exam."

Wang Xiaohu chimed in, "Yeah, we'll definitely all take the EPTA exam."

Ang Lee really didn't want to discourage them, so he asked, "Are you two sure?"

The two boys thought to themselves, "What's so uncertain about this?!"

It's a must.

"Come here, you two."

Seeing that Xiao Bei and Qiao Zhizhi hadn't left yet, Li An called everyone to the conference room.

"Did you two plan to pull some tricks at noon again?"

The children smiled without saying a word.

"Okay, everyone sit down. Xiao Hu, pull down the blinds."

Li An turned on the computer projector and said, "I'd like to talk to you about the changes in this year's exams. Our No. 4 Piano Classroom will be offering EPTA exams this summer."

"EPTA stands for European Piano Teachers Association, an organization dedicated to the development of piano education."

Upon hearing this, Ah Liu unconsciously straightened his back.

Xiao Bei: "Teacher, is it an association made up of a group of professional piano teachers?"

Ang Lee: Yes, so this exam is extremely difficult.

High difficulty? Wang Xiaohu was afraid it would be too easy, otherwise how could they demonstrate their abilities!

Seeing this, Ang Lee smiled and said, "Take a look for yourselves."

As he spoke, he clicked the mouse to switch to the exam content.

The projector screen flashed briefly, and the meeting room fell silent.

Then came the occasional gasp of cold air followed by prolonged silence.

Two minutes later, Ah Liu finally couldn't hold back anymore!
"Not a teacher! What kind of exam is this?!"

"The EPTA professional certification exam, what's wrong? Not planning to take it anymore?"

Ah Liu choked up. It wasn't that he didn't want to take the exam, but wasn't the difficulty of the exam just too high?!

He didn't dare to look any further; even the content of the Level 3 exam sent chills down his spine.

Putting everything else aside, just the second requirement—that the required pieces be played at the original speed?!

How could someone at level three possibly play at the original speed?
He saw the Dilbea Rondo, which he had practiced before, in the EPTA Level 3 repertoire.

Before learning the piano from a teacher, he had no concept of what speed to play; he just wanted to play it.

Things are different now; he has a deep understanding of the significance of speed in music.

So he couldn't understand why the EPTA exam required Grade 3 students to play this rondo at the original tempo.

Thinking back to when he was at level three, he probably couldn't even reach half the speed.

Who can pass this test?!
Ang Lee knew what the kids were thinking: "Do they think it's too difficult?"

Even Qiao Zhizhi, who is already qualified to pursue a professional career in violin, couldn't help but nod in agreement.

moment.

Ang Lee: "Have you ever considered whether your previous exams were too easy?"

Is it simple? The four children asked themselves at the same time.

Ang Lee: "You all probably think it's easy. Why? Raise your hand if you've ever failed a certification exam."

The four children looked at each other.

No one raised their hands.

Ang Lee: "Wang Xiaohu, how did you pass the Level 2 exam? Tell us about it."

Wang Xiaohu: Uh

Ang Lee: "Should I speak for you? It's okay, everyone here is a guy, there's no shame in it."

Normally, there would have been laughter at the scene, but no one laughed at this moment.

"I'll just explain it myself," Wang Xiaohu said, sounding a little embarrassed. "I didn't practice much back then. Teacher Zheng told me I could pass the test and that I should just go for it, so I did."

"In the end, I didn't play anything, but the judges still said it was good."

"I thought I definitely wouldn't pass, but I actually did."

Xiao Bei: "Actually, I'm pretty much the same."

Ah Liu: "I didn't play it very well back then either."

Qiao Zhizhi: "I also skipped a grade."

Ang Lee: "Let's put Zhizhi aside for now and talk about the three of you. Did you have the corresponding level of skill back then?"

"It's definitely not possible. Although the examination book states that it's for amateur social examinations, it doesn't mean that amateurs can pass just because they can't play the piece."

"When I took the grading exam, even though we lived in a small town, if you couldn't play well, you wouldn't pass."

Wang Xiaohu: "Why?"

Ang Lee: "What? Why?"

Wang Xiaohu: "Why is it so easy for us to pass the exams?"

Ang Lee: "I was afraid of discouraging you, afraid that you wouldn't take the exam next year. You're junior high school students now, you can understand some things if you think about them."

Ah Liu: "Isn't this just selling certificates?"

Ang Lee: "Hehe, you can't think like that. It's not really about selling certificates. Didn't you actually participate? Didn't you gain anything? Didn't you have any experience?"

"Right, it can only be said that the grading exams are different now than before. In the past, we had to treat the grading exams with the mindset of taking an exam, but now it's just a pure experience."

"However, this experience is also called a grading test."

"So, is the grading exam an exam or an experience?"

"I believe they can coexist."

"Because the process of participating in music is itself an experience." "If you want to experience it, then take an exam that can satisfy that experience."

"Students who want to truly assess their own level through grading exams can register for a grading exam that is similar to a test."

Qiao Zhizhi: "For example, EPTA."

Ang Lee laughed: "EPTA is certainly an excellent choice, but besides EPTA, there are other similar exams on the market."

Xiao Bei: "Teacher."

Ang Lee: "Xiao Bei said."

Xiao Bei: "Teacher, I want to try Level 1 this year."

As Xiao Bei finished speaking, the other three children all looked over, and although they were surprised, they were still somewhat taken aback.

Ang Lee: "Difficult."

Xiao Bei smiled sweetly: "That's why I said I wanted to give it a try."

Ang Lee: "Okay, then Xiao Bei, why don't you sign up for Level 1 this year and give it a try? Who knows?"

Qiao Zhizhi: "Teacher, I actually want to try Level 1 too."

Ang Lee: "Okay, Zhizhi, you should try it too."

Wang Xiaohu: "Teacher, I... I'll try to reach level two!"

Just then, two furtive figures appeared outside the conference room door.

Ang Lee: "Come in!"

The two, who had just finished their morning rehearsal, jokingly pushed open the door and slipped in.

After the final exams, the classmates gathered together and naturally exchanged heartfelt greetings, especially with the addition of new members.

Ang Lee gave everyone about ten seconds, then urged, "Hurry up and sit down."

"We were just talking about the certification exams, are you two still taking them?"

Car: "Take the test!"

Tang Xiaoxing: "I'd like to try it too."

Ang Lee: "Then you two take your time watching it."

As he spoke, Ang Lee looked back at Wang Xiaohu and said, "Level 2 is no problem for you. Why don't you try Level 3?"

Wang Xiaohu: "!?"

Ang Lee: "What about you, Liu? Why don't you go home and ask your dad, or do you take the exam again?"

Xiao Liu hesitated for a moment: "Teacher, what do you think? I'm a little confused right now. My parents don't really care about the certificate. Before, I just wanted to get the Level 10 certificate as soon as possible."

Li An pondered for a moment, then looked at the car: "Referring to the exam requirements on the big screen, A-Lin, what level do you think Xiao Liu can pass this time?"

Car: "Level 3".

Ah Liu: "If it's just the performance part, I'm actually confident, but my aural skills and sight-singing are a bit lacking."

Ang Lee: "So this is where you need to improve; you and Wang Xiaohu are reversed."

“I think his ability to listen to songs has reached level five, but his skills are still far from good.”

Wang Xiaohu: "I knew it."

Ang Lee: "What about you, Xiaoxing?"

Tang Xiaoxing saw all the pieces she had practiced in the requirements for the Level 10 exam, and she wanted to see how many points she could get for those pieces now.

"Teacher, I'm aiming for Level 10."

Ang Lee: "Ah Lin".

Car: "Level 6".

The children were stunned. "No way?"
Ang Lee: "Okay, Level 6."

Ang Lee: "Then we've finalized it. I'll have Arlene send the specific requirements for the exam pieces and the specialized skills test to the group chat."

"Our first specialized skills summer program starts in a week. The first session is free. Just bring your pencils, erasers, music notebooks, and your brain."

Ha ha ha ha--

The children finally smiled.

"Teacher, do we still have summer intensive training programs this year?"

"There won't be any this year, but you're welcome to come and practice anytime. Remember to schedule a time with Teacher Wan in the group chat beforehand. Meeting adjourned."
-
The group of children left in a large group, having agreed to have lunch together at noon.

Ang Lee was invited, but he did not go.

With the children's summer vacation here, he has to get busy whether he wants to or not.

He called Fang Zheng to inquire about the morning's rehearsal, and then set off on his electric scooter.

He invited some friends to lunch.

The online registration for the EPTA exams in Chengdu has begun. This time, in addition to the exams for children, there are also professional skills assessments for teachers.

This is what Ang Lee values ​​more.

No exam can be separated from the guidance of a teacher; the ultimate goal is to allow children to truly experience music and joy through piano learning.

The importance of teachers is highlighted here.

Wei did misunderstand Ang Lee back then; Ang Lee's original intention in wanting to become chairman was not to create a monopoly.

Who can monopolize this?

He didn't expect to change the status quo of the industry in Chengdu just by setting up an association, but he had to do it.

Let's start with this teacher skills assessment.

I had a long chat with several piano teachers in Chengdu at noon, and they all shared their thoughts and expressed their support.

Ang Lee also gained some valuable information from this, such as the current predicament of grassroots piano teachers.

After the meal, he made a special trip to Teacher Wei's house.

The teacher and student chatted for a long time.

"It's difficult."

"We have to do it, even if it's difficult."

"Yes! That's the spirit we need. Don't worry about this. Even if it costs me my old bones, I'll support you to the very end."

"Then please get some teachers to sign up for me first, so I can get the training class up and running."

Ang Lee was just joking, but he didn't expect Professor Wei to go so far.

In just two days, nearly a dozen piano teachers signed up.

With the addition of teachers who proactively sought advice from Sigang, the number of participants in the training course was quickly sufficient.

And so, the first EPTA piano teacher training course was launched.

Among them are many alumni of the Piano Department of Rongyuan University, as well as a current student, our senior sister Xiao Ji.

To provide better guidance to these young teachers, Ang Lee not only invited Teacher Wei to oversee the project, but also invited several renowned artists from Chengdu, including Fang Yongbo, to give lectures on-site.

The event was a great success, and Piano Classroom No. 4 once again caused a sensation in Chengdu's piano community.

Several large music training institutions, including Lantian and Yale, have also internally promoted the EPTA exam, and in less than a week, the number of students enrolling has reached 160+.

From the outside perspective, this was a major move that Ang Lee had been planning for a long time, and in fact, it was.

He started preparing to promote EPTA in Chengdu last year.

However, as Ang Lee said, this is just the beginning.

The truth will only come to light after the excitement has died down.

There's still over a month until the exams and the teacher's skills assessment, and we'll only know what it will be like then.

In short, he was extremely busy this week, drinking almost every night.

Have no idea.

Fortunately, the first teacher training course has ended, and the registration of candidates has been handed over to Mu Xin and Wang Meili.

He can rest for a bit now.

It's just a short rest.

There's only one week left until the first round of the choir competition.

The preparations for the competition at both Shuren and Shipo schools did not go smoothly this week, with various problems arising frequently starting from the second rehearsal day.

The main issue is rehearsal efficiency.

Even Founder Group has run into a brick wall this time.

The next morning at eight o'clock, Ang Lee went to the headquarters first.