Parents see piano as a key to unlock success

A hobby and a comfort

For many people, playing the piano is just a hobby and a way to enjoy themselves.

Huang Xiaoman, from Dongguan, Guangdong province, had intensive piano training for 10 years.

When she finished her last piano exam at age 15, she thought she was "free" because an arduous decade of being forced to practice by her mother had finally come to an end.

She was happy to stay away from the instrument for a long time.

However, one day in high school she felt under great study pressure and wanted to relieve the stress by playing the piano, said the 22-year-old postgraduate, who is majoring in simultaneous translation.

"It was the moment I realized that the thing I had been reluctant to do back in my childhood was, in fact, worthwhile," she said.

"I didn't imagine that it would become my way of relaxing and seeking comfort."

From then on, Huang started playing purely for fun. She practiced The Wedding March hundreds of times in the hope of performing at a relative's wedding someday. She also tried to play the original soundtracks of popular TV dramas she enjoyed.

"Although I didn't grow up to be a professional pianist, I still feel fortunate to have spent time on it," Huang said.

"It has become fully integrated in my life, like a friend or pet who is always there and somewhere I can get comfort whenever I need it."

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