| Arms and legs crossed, I wait patiently for Rhodes' | | | | As he was determined to follow his childhood dream; |
| student classic pianist. Different kinds of people walk | | | | Marais' father did not understand his career choice. |
| past. Is it him? I keep asking myself. In my mind there's | | | | "My dad is a scientist, so it was natural for him to |
| a picture of a hefty man, with broad shoulders and | | | | question my love for music." |
| long fingers. Ten minutes later, I see two men | | | | His father has not been the only one to question this |
| approaching. One is casually dressed in a yellow | | | | young man's passion for music. "People often give me |
| T-shirt and navy blue track pants, and the other is a bit | | | | that look; as if they are saying why music, when the |
| serious; that must be him! But the man in the yellow | | | | world we live in is about economics, science etc." |
| T-shirt stops in front of me. | | | | In his music career at Rhodes, Marais has shared the |
| Nah, he's not serious or heavy enough to be a classic | | | | stage with some of the most celebrated piano |
| pianist. | | | | teachers in the world of music. In April, he attended an |
| "Hi, are you Siya?" It's "Terence!" I mutter to myself as I | | | | International Piano Symposium in Stellenbosh University. |
| reach for his hand to greet him. | | | | This is where lecturers and piano students share ideas, |
| I've just met Terence Marais, fourth year Music | | | | and undergo extensive piano lectures. Marais' |
| student. Marais has just returned from Israel. | | | | reputation earned him a special award to attend |
| "I'm sorry for being late ... bad morning," he grins. | | | | Tel-Hai International Piano Master Classes held in Israel |
| "It's alright." | | | | every year during August. "This was the best learning |
| The pianist stretches his hand and makes eye contact. | | | | experience for me. It was not always rosy though; I |
| "I had a busy day yesterday; I cooked a special dinner | | | | had some bad experiences on stage, but it was worth |
| for my girlfriend," he says, "Everything had to be | | | | it." As much as Marais enjoyed the theory part of the |
| perfect, it was our anniversary." His face lights up. | | | | classes; he also had a lot of fun putting all the theory |
| Terence Marais, the pianist. "Who is this person?" Born | | | | into practice. Unfortunately his fun was spoilt when he |
| in Johannesburg, 22 year-old Marais started playing | | | | forgot his notes while playing for an audience. "It was a |
| piano at the age of six. Marais did not take piano | | | | bad performance, but I recovered quite soon," he says, |
| seriously then. "I took lessons for one year, after which | | | | "The atmosphere was so good there was no time to |
| I asked my mom if I could stop the lessons," he says. "I | | | | sit around and moan. I had to get my grove back, and |
| guess I didn't enjoy it at the time." | | | | fast." |
| He picked up on the lessons again when he was 11, up | | | | Under his name, Marais has two complete |
| to high school. "As far as I can remember, I always | | | | compositions with a lot more "under construction". On |
| wanted to be a performing artist." Just like any other | | | | Sunday, he shared the stage with Catherine Foxcroft |
| hard working student, Marais did well in other subjects, | | | | and the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra at the |
| like maths and science. But music has always taken | | | | Feathermarket Centre in Port Elizabeth, playing music |
| the front seat. In high school, Marais was a member of | | | | by South American Composer, Astor Piazolla. |
| the choir. "Before I started playing piano, I used to be a | | | | For his fans, Marias promises nothing but the best of |
| voice soloist." His dreams of becoming a singing | | | | music in the coming year. |
| musician were shattered when he voice became | | | | Fans can hear him perform in Grahamstown next |
| "scratchy". Instead of seeing this as a tragedy; Marais | | | | month. Look out for details in Grocott's Mail. |
| saw a challenge. He started exploring the piano. | | | | |