Chapter 38
The Virtual Studio
Living two lives at once required a level of discipline Addie didn't know she possessed. Every weekday morning, she walked the familiar hallways of her old local high school, blending in with her childhood friends, taking algebra notes, and chatting about standard teenage drama. But the moment the final bell rang, she sprinted all the way back to her house. By 3:30 PM, she was sitting at her bedroom desk, turning on her high-definition webcam to face the stern, unblinking glare of Maestro Vance, who beamed into her room via video link from hundreds of miles away in the city.The setup was entirely strange. Her computer screen showed the grand, echoey recital halls of Crestview, while Maestro Vance’s screen showed Addie’s cozy childhood bedroom, complete with her fairy lights and childhood posters."The latency of the internet will not be an excuse for poor articulation, Miss Addie," Vance's voice crackled through her desktop speakers. "From the beginning of the sonata. Let me see your finger placement clearly in the camera."It was exhausting. Without Julian there to anchor her rhythm or share the weight of the pressure, Addie had to rely completely on her own internal drive. She practiced until her laptop battery ran low and her lips were completely numb, her classical scales echoing out through the floorboards of the house. Downstairs, her parents and Aunt Clara listened quietly, deeply moved by the incredible work ethic of the daughter who had fought so hard just to stay by their side. Addie was proving that a musician didn't need to be locked away in a cold city cage to achieve perfection.
Living two lives at once required a level of discipline Addie didn't know she possessed. Every weekday morning, she walked the familiar hallways of her old local high school, blending in with her childhood friends, taking algebra notes, and chatting about standard teenage drama. But the moment the final bell rang, she sprinted all the way back to her house. By 3:30 PM, she was sitting at her bedroom desk, turning on her high-definition webcam to face the stern, unblinking glare of Maestro Vance, who beamed into her room via video link from hundreds of miles away in the city.
The setup was entirely strange. Her computer screen showed the grand, echoey recital halls of Crestview, while Maestro Vance’s screen showed Addie’s cozy childhood bedroom, complete with her fairy lights and childhood posters. "The latency of the internet will not be an excuse for poor articulation, Miss Addie," Vance's voice crackled through her desktop speakers. "From the beginning of the sonata. Let me see your finger placement clearly in the camera."
It was exhausting. Without Julian there to anchor her rhythm or share the weight of the pressure, Addie had to rely completely on her own internal drive. She practiced until her laptop battery ran low and her lips were completely numb, her classical scales echoing out through the floorboards of the house. Downstairs, her parents and Aunt Clara listened quietly, deeply moved by the incredible work ethic of the daughter who had fought so hard just to stay by their side. Addie was proving that a musician didn't need to be locked away in a cold city cage to achieve perfection.