By Marissa Higgs
He stops playing for only a moment as he notices his fingers beginning to bleed. They stain the piano for now, but he continues on with his piece.
Ethan Valentin, Div. 459, is preparing himself for another piano audition. He wakes up early and practices for three hours straight. He refuses to listen to other music. His fingertips start bleeding again.
For the past 12 years, Valentin’s life has been consumed by music. When he was three-years-old his grandparents showed him their piano and since then his life has revolved around his craft.
Valentin was nominated by his piano instructor for a chance to perform in a master class with Christopher O’Riley, the host of the NPR program “From the Top”.
“So I sent in this audition, but you can’t just send in a tape, a teacher needed to nominate you,” he said. “I was one of four winners.”
Valentin’s instructor was one of the piano teachers chosen to nominate students for this competition. Throughout the country, about 40 kids were nominated.
“I played for [O’Riley] and he gave me a lot of really good critiques, but it was only a one time thing,” Valentin said.
Every Saturday Valentin goes to the tuition free conservatory at the Merit School of Music, a non-profit organization where Chicago students go to receive a quality musical education.
“We believe music can give youth the tools to grow, develop personal talents and discover success, no matter what path they take in life,” the Merit School of Music said on their website.
Beginning in January, Valentin will have an audition at least once a week until March. Most of these auditions are for the three colleges he is considering attending next fall.
“I’m auditioning at a couple big schools: Indiana, Oberlin, and Lawrence. Oberlin is the dream,” he said.
In the past year he has applied to over a dozen piano contests, has won a prize in five, and has won first place in two.
“I just audition for a lot of stuff and get really lucky,” he said.
Practice is a never-ending reality for him. Often he is found with adhesive bandages wrapped around the tips of his fingers from playing too much. He has a habit of cutting his fingernails too short and when he plays for too long they start to bleed.
Like many artists, Valentin has certain piano playing traditions and pet peeves.
“I have a pet peeve of things vibrating [while I am playing]. If I hit a certain note the radiator cover will start vibrating or a certain screw will shake so I have to stop, run around, and tighten all the screws before I can start again,” he said.
Valentin’s long-term goal is to be able to make money as a traveling pianist, but would be perfectly happy teaching piano lessons.
Sitting in Lane’s piano practice room on the fourth floor, he wipes the bloods stains off the keys. He is doing what he loves.
