Throughout the interview, it became more apparent how seriously Alex took the piano and music as a whole. Then the question of whether he had ever competed formed in my head. When I asked him, he replied: “I have participated in many competitions in different disciplines. I competed as a sidekick to reach the national level in high school, which was very competitive. I also participated in the Chautauqua Piano Festival and made it to the semi-finals one year, which was very exciting. Then he said something that made me really respect him as a musician. He added: “Although the competition was an exciting experience, it does not motivate me as a musician. I did well in competition but it doesn't satisfy me at all. I find that people who judge snippets of songs sometimes tend to focus on the superficial aspects of listening. Learning that Alex was not driven by a crazy competitive nature and was solely fueled by his love of playing the piano for pure pleasure was very admirable and inspiring. It's refreshing that there are still people who don't play for money or to win illustrious titles, but simply for the pure ecstasy a person feels every time they land or win. sits in front of the instrument with which they share a very special bond. So how long did Alex have to train to become as good as he was and be able to compete and hold the position he has today? As a student, I was dying to know. He told me, "I train 3 to 5 hours a day, but in my first few years at Eastman I did 5 to 6 hours a day, but what I learned after a some time is that what really matters is the quality of the practice and not the quality of the practice. how long you do it. He also added that his piano teacher told him "no more than 8 to 12 hours...... in the middle of a sheet...; I can't even imagine getting the same satisfaction from other activities. It can bring me stress at times, but that's one of the many things that makes it fun. I don't think there is anything in the world like music and without it there would be a huge empty space in my heart. He’s definitely a man living his dream; a dream that many of us take a lifetime to realize and that some unfortunately never realize. Alex has harnessed his full potential and more. He is a true inspiration for me and for other musicians around him. I hope Alex continues to play for many years to come and do what brings him happiness.Work Cited:1. K, Alex. Interview with Victoria LB The man with gifted hands. Victoria L. Bell, April 16, 2014.2. “QuoteGarden.” unknown. 1998. http://www.quotegarden.com/site-info.html (accessed April 18, 2014).