I am a Big Player
Chapter 333: Piano class professor! (First update)_1

Chapter 333: Piano class professor! (First update)_1

When Ren He finished playing the sorrowful third movement, applause echoed in the rehearsal hall for a long time. Initially, everyone’s first reaction to Ren He was that he was too young, completely different from what they had imagined.

But now, after the performance of four pieces, everyone’s thoughts had changed; setting aside composition, even his playing level was beyond reproach.

In fact, this was the case, as those present were all connoisseurs, who could understand the level of skill with just a listen.

Chairman Joseph apologetically said, "I’m very sorry for doubting you before. Whether it’s performance or composition, you indeed qualify for a professorship at the Juilliard School of Music."

This was also a kind of stereotype. In their view, how could someone with Master Level skills pretend such things? Moreover, the pieces he presented were original, and they had not heard them anywhere else.

Ren He smiled and said, "It’s okay. We don’t have a basis of trust between us; it’s natural for you to doubt. I also hope to take up a position at the Juilliard School of Music. However... I have another idea, and I wonder if it would be acceptable to you. I wish to teach performance rather than composition."

He continued, seriously spouting nonsense: "In truth, I don’t know how I would teach composition. I always feel that such things are too closely related to talent and inspiration, so I would like to teach piano performance skills."

What he actually thought was that Yang Xi was learning instrument performance, specializing in piano. She had always wanted to learn the piano, and although she was good at the guitar, she had been practicing piano during the past year while taking music theory classes. Now here, it was like a wish come true. Ren He felt that instead of teaching composition, it would be better to just teach Yang Xi the piano...

After all, he had no more reservations this time; always avoiding Su Ruqin and the others didn’t make sense, just like...

Everyone exchanged looks, facing another unexpected situation. Chairman Joseph had originally envisaged the position for Ren He as a composition professor. But now, he didn’t want to teach composition; he wanted to teach piano performance...

In the past, this certainly would not have been acceptable. After all, this is a formal school. How could they let you teach whatever you want? No one had the luxury of choosing.

But in fact, at higher levels, talent is respected more. Looking at it now, Ren He, whether in composition or in piano and violin performance, was Master Level. If such a person truly wished to teach only piano performance, the Juilliard School of Music would seriously consider his decision.

Joseph said with a troubled expression, "May we hold a short meeting? After all, this is not a small decision."

"Of course. I’ll wait outside the rehearsal hall. I appreciate the Juilliard School giving me this opportunity," Ren He felt it was quite normal for them to hesitate. Real-life considerations should indeed be comprehensive. If they let him do as he wished just because of his skill level, it would diminish the dignity of the Juilliard School of Music.

Ren He waited outside the door while everyone inside the rehearsal hall sat down together to discuss.

Chairman Joseph weighed in, "Undoubtedly, he has the level to be proficient in teaching piano performance courses. The problem is that we currently have vacancies for both piano and composition professors. It’s easier to find a piano professor, but a talent in composition is hard to come by. I would still prefer that he take up the position of composition professor."

As chairman, he considered issues more from the perspective of resource allocation for the Juilliard School of Music.

"I think we should respect his choice. After all, it’s such geniuses who are truly rare. Can you imagine he is only 16 years old? As long as he is at the Juilliard School, the overall strength of the school will improve in the future. Have you considered the impact these four songs will have once they are released in the classical music world? How long has it been since we’ve seen compositions this outstanding?" A middle-aged woman spoke excitedly.

"I think Maya is making sense; the impact this young man just gave me is too immense, especially the last Croatian Rhapsody and his new piece. It’s been a long time since someone has shaken me like this. I agree to respect his personal choices!" a white man said.

Chairman Joseph stood there with his arms folded, pondering the matter. After a silent minute, he finally spoke, "Alright, I agree to his appointment as a professor for the piano performance class! I believe that for geniuses, indeed, a more tolerant attitude should be accorded. Our Juilliard School of Music exists for geniuses, not only for the genius students but also for the genius teachers!"

It wasn’t until then that Ren He’s admission to the Juilliard School of Music was finally confirmed.

On the way here, Ren He had already considered many things. He deeply understood that a formal university wouldn’t so easily overlook the objective issues at hand, and his age itself was a limitation, just as everyone in the rehearsal hall had imagined: a 16-year-old boy teaching others would indeed seem off-putting!

However, since Ren He had considered this, he was determined to break their predefined notions.

Coming to America and returning in defeat was not his style.

Joseph, on behalf of the Juilliard School of Music, formally signed a 3-year contract with Ren He, with a monthly salary of 22 thousand US Dollars, as a piano professor!

During this time, Joseph also sought Ren He’s opinion on whether his four compositions could be recorded under the auspices of the Juilliard School of Music and promoted externally—the compositions were too outstanding, and Joseph was eager for many more people to learn that these were written by their Juilliard professor.

Ren He thought about it and replied, "That’s totally fine with me; I just want to wait a bit. However, I can promise you that it won’t be an issue. I will have them recorded during my tenure at Juilliard, and it won’t take long, just a few months."

Joseph was satisfied upon hearing such a commitment from him.

After taking care of all this, Ren He began to look for an apartment rental near the Juilliard School of Music. Not short on cash, he found a particularly luxurious high-end apartment in the bustling city area in just one afternoon—a two-bedroom and one living room apartment for merely 3500 US Dollars a month, a sum that was negligible compared to Ren He’s income.

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of his new home, Ren He could look directly down at the Juilliard School of Music below. Having settled everything, he too felt a sense of relief. He didn’t blame Yang Xi for not resisting her parents’ decision, for if he truly had a disagreement with his parents, he would also have to opt for a temporary compromise.

Their parents are not strangers whom you can ignore completely, not caring about their emotions or their happiness and sorrow. When it comes to parents who gave birth to you, raised you, and loved you, you can’t sever that relationship. In this world, there’s never absolute freedom, not even for Ren He.

Because of his mature mindset, he understood even better the importance of respecting these relationships and everyone’s feelings. Living only for one’s desires is just too self-centric.

Ren He might be selfish, but he respected his parents as well as Yang Xi’s parents.

However, this time he chose a more intense way to prove to Su Ruqin and Yang En his determination to be with Yang Xi.

He was also tired of a love that had to hide and seek. What if he was discovered again? Could he continue the chase to Mars? He too would get exhausted!

So whether Su Ruqin and Yang En would begin to acknowledge his relationship with Yang Xi depended on his success in changing their perspective this time.