As I continued my journey at MUSON, I began preparing for my Grade 5 Practical Piano examination. It was another important stage in my musical growth, and I knew it would require more dedication than ever before.
One of the new pieces I started learning was Toccata in A Major by Pietro Domenico Paradisi. At first, the piece seemed difficult. It demanded speed, control, accuracy, and a lot of patience. Every practice session taught me something new, and although I wasn't perfect, I could see myself improving little by little.
Around this time, I also started playing the piano in church. I wasn't accompanying the choir yet, but simply being trusted to play during services was a big step for me. It gave me real-life experience and helped me become more comfortable playing in front of people.
One of my biggest challenges was sight-reading. Reading unfamiliar music at first sight did not come easily to me. I often had to stop, correct myself, and start again. Although I became much better with consistent practice, I knew I still had a long way to go before becoming truly confident.
This season taught me something I will never forget:
Practice doesn't make you perfect—it makes you confident.
The more I practiced, the less afraid I became of difficult music. Every mistake became a lesson, and every lesson made me a better pianist. I realized that confidence at the piano is not something you are born with; it is built one practice session at a time.
Looking back, I am grateful that I never stopped practicing, because every hour spent at the keyboard was preparing me for greater opportunities ahead.