142. Chapter 142: Sight-Reading Exam
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Chapter 142: Sight-Reading Exam
The first exam was on—sight-reading.
In this test, they mainly checked the candidate’s ability to read music, pitch accuracy, rhythm and speed control, as well as musical expressiveness.
The exam content was simple. All the candidates entered the examination room in order, drew a random score, and then, after a brief preparation, they performed the piece live.
Unlike the instrumental subjects that could be prepared in advance, sight-reading had the added randomness and the requirement of on-the-spot performance.
Therefore, sight-reading was often the most stressful and nerve-wracking part for music students.
At the same time, just as Lin Tian was about to enter the examination room,
He didn’t know that just now something big happened.
Right now,
A wave of extreme despair spread among all the candidates preparing there.
Everyone was suffering immensely, making each day feel like an eternity.
Just a moment ago,
As one after another of the candidates who had just finished their tests walked out of the classroom,
They all looked dejected.
Among them, even some top-notch talents from training institutions couldn’t hide their despondency.
Each sigh was a huge blow to the remaining candidates waiting their turn.
As more people came out,
Many started to realize that something wasn’t right!
“Was it really difficult?!”
One candidate was quickly surrounded by friends who had rushed up.
Soon, with a forlorn expression, this poor candidate lamented:
“I don’t know about the other questions, but the piece I got, it’s not something a human can play! It’s a segment of music that no one can understand!!”
“Is the intensity this high this year?!”
His friend was quickly stunned.
Even if the sight-reading materials were random, they generally would fit within a reasonable difficulty range.
Could it be… that this year’s comprehensive exam has changed its rules?
“You’ll see when you enter.”
That candidate gave a wry smile, then left along the corridor while muttering,
“A single piece of music killed my dream of attending university.”
The worst-case scenario had finally come true.
Very quickly, the surrounding candidates all panicked.
“d*mn, isn’t it supposed to be similar to what we practiced regularly?!”
“So how hard is the music library this year?!”
“What the heck is going on here? Does anyone know?”
“—”
If a single person claimed that the question was hard, it could still be explained as bad luck.
However, with the constant flow of bad news—
In WeChat and QQ groups among the art candidates, it caused a major uproar.
All the candidates who had completed the test were fiercely complaining.
Those who hadn’t taken the exam were trembling with fear!
Word was spreading fast.
This year’s sight-reading questions were beyond what the art candidates could play!
Then one video circulated after being posted to a friend’s circle—a candid runner from the sight-reading exam crying as he dashed out.
It escalated the tension,
“—”
At that moment,
That guy, who had attracted attention before the exam began, stood up and headed toward the classroom,
Drawing everyone’s attention once again.
“Somebody already here!”
“Dude, this poor guy is next?”
“No matter how many times I see him, he’s still so handsome.”
“Cheh! Here? Being handsome won’t help much. I’m starting to look forward to his reaction after he comes out.”
“—”
In a mix of envious or sympathetic glances.
—
Lin Tian walked into the classroom.
Closing the door, the room went quiet.
After tidying up his clothes, Lin Tian sat down in front of the piano.
The recording teacher, a young woman with a slightly nerdy pair of round glasses, exuded a bit of artistic flair.
Lifting her eyes and seeing the young man, she quickly wore a surprised expression on her face.
Are the quality of today’s music students really that good?
She wondered slightly.
So handsome.
Still, according to past experiences, someone so attractive likely wouldn’t do well.
And with this year’s questions,
The previous few candidates broke down in the exam hall, walking out with wobbly legs.
Just thinking about how this clean-cut teenager might also crack under pressure like that—
Fresh out of graduate school and still somewhat green in terms of experience, the female teacher actually felt a tinge of sympathy for the young man before her.
“—”
The recording officially began.
Lin Tian received the test materials.
Earlier at the door, he had heard a bit of gossip that the questions this year seemed quite different from previous years.
He was mentally prepared.
When Lin Tian opened the sheet music and saw a short melody composed of eight bars,
He immediately recognized it: it should be—
Classical music.
Works by Erwin.
The music.
Lin Tian couldn’t help but laugh.
“—”
“—What is he laughing about?!”
Seeing Lin Tian burst into laughter before even starting his performance,
The crowd outside, peeking through the classroom curtains, immediately wore sour expressions.
“Did he get scared stupid?!”
“Has he lost his mind in panic?”
“I’m sweating bullets here, and he is laughing? What is he made of?!”
The recording teacher also felt a huge question mark arise in her mind.
When the other candidates drew their papers earlier, their faces deepened in worry and sorrow almost instantly.
Why is this boy laughing?
Had he prepared himself for extra schooling?
However, the teacher understood too.
The questions this year were indeed absurd, she herself felt similarly puzzled the instant she received the paper.
While provinces slowly moved towards modern music,
Qingjiang Province’s test questions chose obscure and difficult traditional classical compositions!
Even for her, a graduate of Hushang Music University, these pieces posed a challenge.
Forget about the recently trained senior-year music students.
“—”
With sudden piano sounds,
The teacher looked up, startled.
Lin Tian’s fingers were already dancing upon the keys.
The smooth music echoed throughout the hall.
Natural, fluid, like a flowing stream.
Wait, is this sight-reading?
Too smooth, isn’t it?
The teacher’s expression was one of incomparable surprise.
Almost without hesitation, just at a glance, the young man sat down and played as if on stage!
“—”
Lin Tian played passionately, pressing notes over and over.
So familiar
He had performed traditional classical music countless times in harmony with Gan Yan Yu;
Until…
(End of Chapter)
