Piano!!!!!!

First and foremost, I want to thank y’all for the wonderful ideas you’ve provided for new blog posts. If you have any more, feel free to write them in the comments section below.

BUT NOW! Let’s jump right in and talk about… *drumroll* PIANO!!

I know, I know. For some of you, this will be the most boring topic in the world, but it means so much to me and has become such a great part of who I am. If anything, take this as an opportunity to get to know me better. :)

About three or four years ago, my mom signed two of my siblings and me up for piano lessons, and no words could describe how excited I felt. My eldest brother and sister played so well and beautifully. I wanted that! So when I walked into my teacher’s house that first Wednesday, I couldn’t help but smile. That first day, I learned the musical alphabet and how to hold my hands, wrists, fingers, etc. Needless to say, my piano teacher had so much information for me, but because of my excitement, I was eager to learn and had pretty much mastered all she had taught me that day before the next week.

The weeks continued. I participated in my first recital, a terrifying, yet satisfying, experience. Then, lessons continued, and more recitals came. Gradually, my excitement wore off and piano became nothing more than a chore. “I have to do this today,” I would moan. “Just a half hour I can’t be playing outside.”

I continued like this until around late May of 2015. I was working on perfecting two pieces for my June recital. One of the pieces (composed by Chopin) had me struggling so much, and I couldn’t seem to get it right. Until the lesson I had two days before the recital. And everything clicked. Everything.

Walking into the church on that June evening, I felt happy, confident, and prepared, as opposed to bored and nervous. When my turn came, I walked up to the piano and let my fingers do what they had been taught over and over again to do. It felt amazing! Everything came together so nicely. Something had just clicked inside me, and I didn’t want to do anything else but sit down at a piano and play.

When my finger broke in August, I was devastated because my mom told me I couldn’t play the piano. However, when January came and my finger had healed as much as it was ever going to, I was right back at the piano. After the finger break, though, I’ve worked so much harder at my pieces, remembering how much I missed playing. Now, after missing out of a January recital, I’m working on a piece for the June recital, and I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.

Why do I like piano so much? Same reason I like singing so much! Any sort of music is a way to express yourself. Recently, I’ve had so much stress and devastation in my life, but when playing or singing, I feel better. It also helps me deal with happiness. Deal with happiness? Yes, indeed. Whether happy or sad, I need to do something. If I can’t, it drives me crazy! Sitting down and being able to play whatever I want gives me something pleasant to do.

Okay, okay… I will say that I’m naturally gifted with music, and that is such a blessing. Still, though, I have to work hard. Everyone has to work. I know! The “W” word has entered the building. Honestly, though, whether you’re naturally gifted or not, if you don’t put in work, where’s the satisfaction? Where’s the polished piece? In everything, set aside time to put in at least fifteen minutes of work.

Another tip I have for piano players (and honestly? People in general!) is to relax. If you’re up tight and stressed, you will not be focused and determined to work. Maybe take a break from what you’re doing and come back when you’re relaxed. Trust me. You’ll be glad you did.

A final tip would be to just enjoy what you’re doing. It will show if you do or don’t appreciate your work. For instance, one of my brothers didn’t really enjoy piano and thus didn’t work hard in it. However, he then quit piano, joined a football team, and is now teaching himself guitar and succeeding at both guitar and football. Find something to enjoy in what you’re doing. That makes the finished product shine so much more.

Work hard. Relax. Enjoy what you do. Three simple-sounding, yet complex, steps. Believe me: working on working hard, relaxing, and enjoying things makes such a huge difference in everything you do in life.

Work. Relax. Enjoy!