I dont know what people expect out of a shoujo/josei manga, but this is pretty good on a scale of 1 to 10 (i am giving it a 9). Let me break it down on why I think it deserves such a high mark.

For manga, one of the key things that pull readers to it is the artwork. This is one of the rare instances where the cover of the manga is actually less appealing then what appears inside the chapters. (usually it's the other way round, and is usually such a disappointment) I really liked the art, and I think the mangaka has portrayed Hiroyuki as a cold, distant yet talented "prince" beautifully. Likewise, Kazune retains some countryside image with her half-tied hair, and looks like she can look more pretty than she currently is. The artwork is clean and Chopin is also beautifully portrayed.

The story is nothing new - but it definitely is quite good to show Chopin as a chibi character and have him interact with Kazune. I think it may offend true lovers of classical music to see their idol portrayed this way, but as a non-musically inclined person I think it's a pretty cute concept and I really want to see Chopin encourage Kazune more till she has the confidence to improve her music, move forward with her life and achieve her dreams.

There are some who may call this story cliche, but I think it's subjective because it depends on how many similar manga you've read in the past. For a first-time reader or a person that rarely reads any josei or shoujo, I think this is a really cute manga that has so much potential. To be honest I didn't like Nodame Cantabile as much because I found the male-lead a bit too perfect and too demanding, whereas the female lead was such an awkward fit it was quite odd to see them together. As for Kazune and Hiroyuki, their personality isn't that much different and I feel like once they get to know each other more they'll be really cute as a couple or even as friends.

... Last updated on March 16th, 2013, 11:06am

This would've been a decent read for me if it weren't for two things.
Firstly,
Secondly, how cliche this plot is. Yes, it's cute. Yes, the plot has a good theme to it. But honestly, don't even try to deny how cliche this is. You can pretty much tell what's going to happen next.
But ANYWAYS, I love the art and the concept of classical music, since it's what makes this unique. I think if you like cute cliche shoujos, I recommend. For me, this wasn't my cup of tea. However, I will keep tabs on this to see if it gets better. c:

Than what appears on the cover.

It's drawn in Nagae Tomomi's later style, which is cute, yet mature. Even though the male lead seems like a colossal jerk in the beginning, you later realize that it's because this is all written in her point of view. Her disappointment, therefore, strikes very sharply, but the comedy makes up for that. Much of the misunderstanding is cleared up in the first few chapters, so I'd give it a try if you like music with a healthy side of romance.

However, this is not like Nodame Cantabile. Nodame is definitely more mature, dealing with deeper themes, and infinitely more music based. But the cuteness of this manga cannot be ignored. What it lacks in any sort of realism is made up by the charm of each character (though there are only 3).

On a personal note, I love the way the author characterized Chopin. Considering the overall feel of the manga, I wasn't really expecting anything serious.

It's a shoujo manga, and a really, really fluffy one at that.

... Last updated on July 16th, 2012, 4:23pm

I feel like crying now. I have a soft spot for manga like this. It's kind of like the girl version of Hikaru no Go. Read it and you'll find it awesome (