Chapter 59: You Just Need to Find Inspiration!

  "What's wrong with you today? How did you think of going to find Professor Wang so early in the morning, is there something urgent?" Ye Siying asked curiously as soon as she saw Chen Chufan.

  Chen Chufan scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. He thought that for a newcomer, suddenly having the idea of writing a song seemed a bit too ambitious. So he felt a bit awkward about it. However, facing Ye Siyue, he didn't hide anything: "Xiaohui asked me to think of a program to perform at the school's anniversary celebration evening party, so I thought of writing my own song and performing it at the party. That's why I went to find Professor Wang early in the morning to ask for his advice on what to pay attention to when composing music and what else I need to learn! After all, there isn't much time left before the party, I want to prepare early. Oh, don't tell Xiaohui about this yet."

  When Ye Siying heard Chen Chufan's answer, she was slightly distracted. As Han Xiaoxi's best friend, she knew that Han Xiaoxi had always wanted to be a singer, although her family strongly opposed it. However, Han Xiaoxi persisted and chose to major in music. Perhaps this persistence was due to her dreams. Chen Chufan deciding to write his own song and perform it should be considered playing to his strengths. If Han Xiaoxi knew that Chen Chufan had decided to write a song for the evening party, how excited would she be?

  And as for myself? Perhaps the piano piece I played for myself when we first met would be my most beautiful memory.

  "What's on your mind?" Chen Chufan was somewhat puzzled by the girl in front of him who seemed a bit distracted.

  Chen Chufan's words brought Ye Siying back to her senses, and she smiled gently, saying softly: "Nothing, I just think you're quite qualified as a boyfriend, and you've even considered helping your girlfriend continue her dreams. This idea is pretty good, you have to work hard! I represent Xiaohui in supporting you! Let's go, we'll set off."

  Ye Siying finished speaking and took a step forward, Chen Chufan hurriedly quickened his pace to catch up with her, walking alongside her.

  "By the way, Xiaoxi asked me this morning what I did wrong? I haven't even thought about it yet, can you give me a hint?" Chen Chufan asked as they walked along the road.

  "Sorry, Chen Chufan, I'm not your love advisor. Ask me about music and I'll answer. As for emotional matters, go discuss with Xiaoxi yourself!" Ye Siying said with a light smile.

  Two people came to Professor Wang's office. Professor Wang was writing in his office, and Chen Chufan's self-inflicted trap clearly caught him off guard.

  "You should have class this morning!" Professor Wang glanced at the course schedule of the History Department's sophomore year posted on the wall. Since Chen Chufan decided to follow Professor Wang, this course schedule written by Chen Chufan himself had been stuck on the wall above Professor Wang's office desk.

  "Ah, because I had some questions to ask you, I skipped class." Chen Chufan was very calm. Anyway, he knew that Professor Wang had always been dissatisfied with his decision not to transfer majors and wouldn't care whether he attended the history department's classes or not. In fact, this was indeed the case, as Professor Wang didn't comment on Chen Chufan's truancy at all, but instead immediately asked with concern: "What's wrong? Is there something you don't understand about the materials I gave you?"

  "No, I've basically finished reading it. If there's anything I don't understand, Ye Siying has explained it to me. This time I came to ask for your advice on something else!" Then Chen Chufan repeated his thoughts to Professor Wang again.

  "So that's how it is, I was wondering why you came to find this old troublemaker so early." Professor Wang smiled and turned to look at Ye Siyue who had been standing silently on the side: "Siyue, what brings you to find me again? Is there something else you're unsure about?"

  Ye Siying smiled softly and glanced at Chen Chufan, who looked slightly embarrassed: "Old Wang, I don't have anything to do with it. It's just that Chen Chufan didn't dare come find you alone, so he dragged me along."

  "What? Am I that scary?" Professor Wang jokingly asked Chen Chufan.

  Chen Chufan just smiled awkwardly and didn't answer.

  "If you really digest the materials I gave you, composing is not a difficult task at all!" Professor Wang said directly, without teasing Chen Chufan's embarrassment. After finishing speaking, he looked at Chen Chufan who was still confused and continued: "Let's do this, we'll take a test first, Siyue, you come too."

  After finishing speaking, Professor Wang opened the drawer of his office desk and took out a portable audio player. Then he gestured to Chen Chufan and Ye Siying to sit opposite him, giving each of them a pen and a piece of paper.

  "Now I'll play a piece of music, and after you two have listened to it, write down the score!" With that, Professor Wang pressed the play button on the tape recorder.

  It's a fast-paced melody with harmonies, but for Chen Chufan, it's not difficult at all. The basic five-line staff and simplified score are already deeply ingrained in his mind, plus his current abnormal memory, making him fully capable of handling such a small test. Before the music was over in just one minute, he had already completely recorded the score of this melody and handed it to Professor Wang, who was watching them.

  "So fast?" It was clear that Chen Chufan's speed had surprised Professor Wang. Although Professor Wang acknowledged Chen Chufan's talent, he knew that Chen Chufan's basic knowledge of music theory was not thorough enough. Despite the fact that he had spent over a month teaching him, he didn't think such a short period of time could allow Chen Chufan to fully grasp this knowledge. So he hadn't expected that in this small test, Chen Chufan would finish faster than Ye Siying. And this was after only listening once! Normally, completing this test would require at least two or three listens. Could it be that this kid had just scribbled something random? Professor Wang thought to himself.

  When Professor Wang carefully read through the answer sheet handed over by Chen Chufan, he was once again shocked by the musical talent displayed by this young man. The recording was almost perfect, even the pause of certain notes was flawless, which requires such a strong sense of music and solid foundation to achieve! Is it really possible for someone to be so talented that they can fully grasp all this knowledge in just over a month of study?

  "Have you heard this tune before?" Professor Wang asked somewhat awkwardly.

  "No!" Chen Chufan replied honestly.

  "Ah, it seems that there are indeed geniuses in this world!" Professor Wang shook his head and sighed: "Chen Chufan, having you as my student is a waste of your talent!"

  Professor Wang's words made Chen Chufan feel very embarrassed. He hastily humbled himself, saying: "Professor Wang, you mustn't say that, wherever I go, you are also my mentor!"

  "Siying, you can stop writing now, let me take a look!" Professor Wang said with a wry smile, turning to Ye Siying.

  After reading Ye Siyi's paper, it's actually not bad, about half of the content is recorded and the accuracy rate is also quite high. If I hadn't read Chen Chufan's answer sheet first, Professor Wang might still be very pleased, but what can you do when comparisons are inevitable?

  "Not bad, not bad at all!" Professor Wang praised. "Actually, Chen Chufan, if you just want to write a song, rather than a large-scale orchestral piece, you are now fully capable of composing it yourself. In fact, composition is not as complicated as you imagine, especially for popular songs that young people like, which only require some basic music theory knowledge. For example, harmony, form, counterpoint and instrumentation, these are also the four essential contents recognized as necessary to learn composition. And these contents are all covered in the teaching materials I gave you."

  "In addition, you need to have a good sense of rhythm and pitch, for example, when inspiration strikes, you can hum out a melody and record it immediately. And these qualities you already possess! So what you need to pay attention to is grasping the style of the song, as well as the ideas you want to express, and some indispensable inspiration. You can invite Ye Siying to collaborate with you, two people exchanging creative inspiration will easily get inspired. Of course, for the first time composing, it's inevitable that due to lack of experience, there may be some flaws in instrumentation or harmony, at that time you can come find me, I'll help you with the final check. As for the lyrics, you can only figure it out yourself, old man that I am, I won't be able to help you!" Professor Wang concluded.

  "Thank you, Professor Wang!" Chen Chufan said sincerely.

  It seemed that Chen Chufan didn't gain anything from visiting Professor Wang this time. But in fact, the truth was not like that. Because he gained confidence from Professor Wang's unreserved affirmation. Perhaps this made him more delighted than some trivial advice. Moreover, Professor Wang also promised to help him revise his own composition, which would save him a lot of detours.

  So when Chen Chufan walked out of Professor Wang's office, his mood was very pleasant. Being able to get the affirmation of a professional, Chen Chufan should also feel happy.

  "Where are we going now?" Ye Siying asked Chen Chufan with a spring breeze on his face.

  "Why don't we go to the music room now and start our creation?" Chen Chufan was full of confidence at this time, and of course wanted to start his own creative journey immediately.

  "It's your creation, not ours!" Ye Siyi said lightly. Seeing Chen Chufan's excited expression, Ye Siyi's emotions were inexplicably low. She didn't know why she had such feelings? Was it because his first song wasn't for herself? Thinking of this, Ye Siyi couldn't help but blush, feeling that she shouldn't have such thoughts!

  "King Lao said that we should create together, the inspiration can be more abundant! So of course we have to come together, you won't not want to help me, right?" Chen Chufan said with a joyful expression, without noticing the girl's low mood.

  In the end, Ye Siyi still accompanied Chen Chufan to the familiar music classroom. Then, they began their long game of staring at each other.

  "After a long silence, Chen Chufan said with some annoyance: 'Inspiration? Where has our inspiration gone? Why hasn't it come yet?'"

  Ye Siying glared at Chen Chufan, and for the first time, she discovered that this big boy also had a lazy side. "What do you think inspiration is? Is it like wild grass by the roadside, where you can grab a handful at will? Isn't it about suddenly having an epiphany or being inspired by something external? Do you think you can just have it whenever you want? That would make inspiration too cheap!"

  Ye Siying finished speaking and ignored Chen Chufan, walking to the piano and sitting down at the familiar instrument. Thinking of the lingering emotions in her heart, she couldn't help but feel a little dazed. Then, some light and melancholic melodies began to echo through the spacious classroom.

  "What a beautiful melody, it's a pity that it's only a short segment, but I can record it down, who knows when it might come in handy!" As Ye Siyue casually played out the short melody, Chen Chufan quickly pulled out paper and pen to jot it down.