I’m deeply grateful to Professor Kim Joo-hwan for playing the fugue from Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 847, during the INZEUM training retreat in August. It is a three-voice fugue, and he encouraged us to follow each melodic line attentively. He explained that listening with this kind of awareness could itself become a form of meditation—a practice of staying present in the moment.
I hadn’t played Bach for decades, but hearing him play suddenly inspired me to study fugues again. As soon as I returned from the retreat, I ordered a copy of The Well-Tempered Clavier. Since Bach wrote this music for the keyboard instruments of his time, playing it well requires a different approach from that used for much modern piano music. I therefore felt that I needed a teacher who truly understood Bach.
Luckily, yesterday I found an excellent piano teacher whose studio is only about fifty meters from my home. She teaches so clearly and thoughtfully that I already feel highly motivated to practice. I’m truly grateful to have found her and excited that she will guide me as I begin studying Bach’s fugues again.
I haven’t played the piano for more than a year, but thanks to Professor Kim, I have rediscovered my desire to play. Now, with an excellent new teacher to guide me, I feel inspired to return to the piano—not only to make music, but also to experience playing Bach as a form of meditation.
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