From Relief to Rerecording: What a Piano Diploma Taught Me

Checking my inbox today, I was overjoyed to receive the official notice that I passed my ARSM piano exam. Though I prepared for this milestone completely solo without an instructor, designing my own 30-minute repertoire brought a unique sense of joy and discovery. The recording process, however, was intense; nerves got the best of me, forcing me to record eight different takes. After finishing what I believed to be a flawless run, I thought my battle was over. I stripped off my suit, stepped out into the blazing equatorial heat to buy myself a toy water gun as a celebratory treat, grabbed lunch, and felt utterly relieved.

The relief was short-lived. Back home, as I prepared to upload the file, I discovered that my dad’s phone had overheated, cutting off the final five seconds of the video. I felt completely crushed, yet backing down was not an option. Gathering my resolve, I practiced the pieces once more, suited up in my formal shoes and attire, and redid the entire recording. While making music is full of happiness, tackling a diploma exam is undeniably stressful.

I am incredibly grateful for this successful outcome. Yet, even if the results had been different, I wouldn't have feared failure—I would have simply picked myself up and tried again!