Soft notes echo through the practice room as senior Ritik Raman leans slightly into the piano keys. As he transitions between passages, he pauses — not to consider what play next, but how it should feel. Over the years, this mindset has shaped his growth both as a pianist and as a person, allowing him to develop a relationship with music rooted in curiosity, discipline and self-expression. 

Ritik’s connection to music began at home, long before he ever seriously considered playing the piano himself. After watching and observing, he slowly grew to love the instrument. 

“One of the main things that I’ve enjoyed is music, since my mom used to play piano for me when I was a kid,” Ritik said. “That made me curious about the instrument more so than the music at first.”

As Ritik began to explore different instruments, he found himself drawn back to the piano for the sound it produced and its range of possibilities. 

“Pretty quickly, I realized that the piano spoke to me in a different way than the other instruments,” Ritik said. “There’s so much depth you can get out of the instrument that it’s rare to find in any other instrument. It allowed me to both have the freedom to compete with super technical repertoire and also just have fun with the piano.” 

As he continued developing his skills, Ritik’s understanding of music shifted from simply playing accurately to interpreting the notes meaningfully. Lessons became less about replication and more about exploration, encouraged by his teacher. 

“One of the things my teacher always emphasized to me is that you have to be yourself when you’re playing,” Ritik said. “That doesn’t take the form of changing the notes, because the notes are what’s written. In terms of interpretation, she never really let me copy something I’d heard. She always said that you needed to feel it for yourself.”

For those that have worked closely with him, Ritik’s natural sense of drive and motivation is immediately evident. Kairui Sun (’26) recalls being struck by the intentionality behind his gradual improvement as a musician back in frosh year and the high standards he set for himself. 

“One of the first things I learned about Ritik was that he started piano late,” Kairui said. “But Ritik has this sense of self drive to make his playing better for himself. He wasn’t satisfied with just playing okay, and he really pushed himself to have command over the emotions he conveyed.”

Beyond competitions and individual practice, Ritik’s commitment to music extends into the broader community around him. Whether it’s attending masterclasses or observing his peers perform, music teacher Jaco Wong noticed that he consistently seeks opportunities to learn, even when he is not directly participating. 

 “Ritik really wanted to be a better musician,” Wong said. “When artists came in to teach for a masterclass, he came to all of the classes to watch his friends play even though he wasn’t part of the ensemble. He’s not only looking how to advance his own piano career and music understanding, but goes far beyond to help others.”

In collaborative settings, Ritik’s mindset translates into preparation and adaptability. Rather than approaching rehearsals passively, Ritik consistently arrives with a clear plan, while still remaining flexible enough to adjust in the moment. 

Even when things don’t go his way, however, it’s not a reason for Ritik to compromise emotion for technicality. Fellow musician George Yang (’26) describes his ability to maintain this balance as one of his most defining qualities. During a community performance of Christmas carols for the holidays, where preparation for the arranged music was minimal, Ritik displayed his adaptability and the importance of taking things not too seriously. 

“Whenever we had a rehearsal, he always had a game plan going in,” George said. “Even when we were sight reading for Silent Night, playing at different key signatures, we just laughed it off. He’s definitely a role model for me in terms of his work ethic in music.”

Ritik’s ability to fully control and communicate emotion became especially significant during one of his most memorable competition experiences. In a setting where precision is prioritized above all else, he made a conscious decision to focus on expression, even at the risk of making mistakes. Winning the competition ultimately reinforced the values he had been developing throughout his musical journey. 

As he prepares to move beyond high school, Ritik carries with him a perspective that goes beyond the piano. As he looks ahead, Ritik’s philosophy remains simple yet powerful: the best performances aren’t the most perfect ones, but the ones that feel the most true.

“The reason I won that competition is because I played it the way I wanted to hear it,” Ritik said. “I made a mistake because I was trying really hard to express a certain thing. That experience really taught me that there’s more to appreciating music than perfection.”