Growing up with piano keys

Ta Bao Khoa is engrossed in playing the piano - Photo: Provided by the interviewee

The piano is a friend.

For almost a month now, Ta Bao Khoa has been busier than usual. Besides his school schedule, Khoa has been racing against time practicing and participating in various competitions. Even so, the smile on the face of this 7th-grade student never fades. Because, accompanying Khoa in these competitions is always his piano. For a long time, he has considered the piano his closest friend.

Khoa's parents were the ones who introduced him to the special friend that is the piano. Although neither of them pursued a career in the arts, they understood the significance of music for a child. Therefore, from the age of 5, Khoa was introduced to and taught on an iPad using the Simply Piano software. What delighted Khoa's parents was that their eldest son loved and seemed to have a talent for the instrument. Without much hesitation, they found a piano tutor for him for a while, and then enrolled him in the Rondo Piano Music Center in Ward 5, Dong Ha City.

Although they didn't dare to have too high expectations for their son, when they heard the teachers praise Khoa so much, his parents felt happy. That also motivated them to focus more on their son's musical talent. As Khoa progressed, the instruments in the house were gradually replaced, from organ to electric piano, and then acoustic piano. Even though each replacement was a great effort for the whole family, his parents never regretted it.

Every day, in addition to his time at the center, despite his busy schedule, Khoa still dedicates time to practicing at home. He doesn't force himself into rigid routines but always creates a comfortable environment and mindset to maximize learning effectiveness. Since being introduced and encouraged by his teachers at the center to participate in major piano competitions, Khoa's determination seems to have increased. He learns from experienced seniors and piano teaching channels on YouTube, while also practicing more diligently and setting goals for himself.

Conquer the awards

Talking about the competitions he's participated in, Ta Bao Khoa said that for him, they all held meaning. Each competition provided him with valuable experiences and helped him grow. However, the most unforgettable impression remains his first competition in Da Nang City. At that time, Khoa was only 7 years old.

Growing up with piano keys

Khoa poses for a commemorative photo with his teacher at the 2nd Piano - Guitar Festival - Photo: Provided by the subject.

Before the competition, Khoa and his teachers spent a lot of time and effort practicing. However, at the moment when he needed to shine the most, Khoa didn't perform well. As a result, he didn't win any prizes. "It was my first time playing the piano in front of a large audience, so I felt quite pressured. That led to a result that wasn't what everyone expected. After the competition, I felt very sad and disappointed."

However, at that time, my parents encouraged me, saying: "The most important thing is that you didn't give up and completed your exam." That statement helped me overcome negative emotions and made me eager for a second chance to conquer. I realized that when entering a competition, besides piano technique, stage presence is very important because you will be affected by many external factors. Therefore, first and foremost, you must have a strong mindset," Khoa shared.

However, failure was merely a late-blooming success. Each time he returned from disappointment, Khoa focused even more on his studies and honing his skills. Thanks to this, in 2020, when participating in the first Piano-Guitar Festival organized by the Hue Academy of Music, Khoa excelled, surpassing many talented young contestants and winning second prize. In 2023, returning to the same competition, he showed the organizers and judges his remarkable transformation and was honored with first prize. Those were the happiest days for Khoa.

The path to success is not always smooth. After this experience, Khoa participated in piano competitions twice more in Ho Chi Minh City and Hue, but did not achieve the desired results. This is precisely why the young boy refused to rest on his laurels.

Thanks to his many efforts, Khoa recently reached the finals of the 2025 National Piano Talent Festival organized by the Vietnam Institute for Educational and Cultural Development. At the competition, Khoa was one of the contestants awarded a Silver Medal by the organizers.

Besides the aforementioned awards, Khoa has also made his mark with the piano at many other competitions and events at the provincial and city levels. To this day, the 7th-grade student can't remember all the awards he's received. However, Khoa doesn't consider those achievements as proof of his talent. He's always aware that there are many more talented and skilled students than him, so he has to work harder. That's also the reason that motivates Khoa to always make time to go to the center and hone his skills.

When people think of Ta Bao Khoa, they often picture a studious young boy sitting at a piano, using his skillful fingers to express his emotions. Few know that Khoa is also an outstanding student at school. He has won numerous top prizes in national, provincial, and city-level competitions such as: "Young Informatics"; "Young Innovators"; English public speaking; "Vietnamese Language Champion" on the internet; children's art awards; and the English Olympic on the internet...

For Khoa, each experience at the competitions is like a key in a grand symphony, adding joy to his life. Therefore, Khoa promises himself that he will continue to strive to achieve even greater success.

Tay Long

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/lon-len-with-those-movies-193054.htm