Make "I Love You” Come Across to Our Children - A Reflection to the Movie "Your Lie in Apr
- Jun 15, 2017
- 2 min read
I first learned about this Japanese manga Your Lie in April from 11 years old Lance who told me he wants to learn how to play the original sound track and some of the classical pieces from the later anime adaptation of the original manga. I wondered what anime that is that prompted Lance to practice piano.
After more digging, I found the live-action film adaptation released on September 10, 2016. I watched it. I’m glad it is a good, up-lifting movie with the classical music in the plot, and I can understand the reason why teenagers feel connected to the story. (Watch movie trailer here.)
The pieces used in the movie include:
Paganini, 24 Caprice, Op.1, No.2
Mozart, 12 Variations on "Ah vous dirai-je, Maman" K.265
Saint-Saëns, Introduction et Rondo Capriccioso, Op.28
Beethoven, Moonlight Sonata, 3rd movement
Kreisler, Liebesleid for Violin and Piano / Rachmaninoff, Kreisler's Liebesleid for Piano
Chopin, Ballade No.1 in G minor, Op.23
Mozart, Piano Sonata K.281, 3rd movement
The plot is about high school student / piano prodigy Kōsei Arima who received strict instruction from his mother since very young. His technique precision dominated the competitions; however, some satirized him as "human metronome." Because his mother's death (due to an illness) and a mental breakdown in the recital, Kōsei became insecure about his piano skills and music career. Some years later he met a girl named Kaori Miyazono, a fourteen-year old audacious, free-spirited violinist in the beginning of a new semester. Kōsei's childhood friends and Kaori went through all the troubles just to help Kōsei enjoying the piano again.
Kōsei’s mother’s teaching style – some think abusive – is common in Asia. I had couple teachers just like her. In one of the scenes where Kōsei happily showed his first prize to his mother, but she threw away the prize and music score, slapped Kōsei’s face and yelled “You played the rhythm wrong at measure 13! I already told you you played it wrong! Why did you still play it wrong? Why can’t you play it right?” Little Kōsei cried “I practiced so hard. I tried to win the competition for you so you can get better.” The mother’s behavior is not an exaggeration. I’ve seen this in live action. Think again, did you ever say similar thing to your child or student when you got frustrated?
Kōsei’s mother trained Kōsei so hard because she knew she won’t be by her son’s side forever, and she wanted Kōsei to have a skill that can support himself. What parents don’t want that for their kids? We just didn’t make “I love you” come across to our children.
Positive support from family and friend is important. After being an adult for years, we forgot how it felt when we studied for a difficult subject in the childhood. When adults said “those difficult passages seemed so easy to you. You’re very gifted!” As an immature kid I always screamed silently “Do you have any idea how much I practiced? I had to sacrifice my favorite cartoon show!” A simple “Good job, you practiced so hard” will really make a big difference. Finally, young students, be courageous! Strive for what you do and set your goal high!
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