A Personal Reflection On My Musical Journey

I’ve been taking piano lessons every week since second grade. I took the lessons not due to personal interest, but because my mom wanted me to learn a valuable skill during my elementary years when I was not yet engulfed by school. I remember my joy when I first found that my small fingers could make classic tunes such as “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. Yet what occupied me at the time was the amount of practice that was demanded from me. Because, I quote my piano teacher, “music isn’t just ‘pressing on the right buttons’” (which already took much practice to do). One has to find the best fingerings, adjust dynamics, learn music theory… concepts which didn’t seem necessary to my inexperienced self. My piano teacher and my mom also both insisted that I take part in yearly piano exams, and after an initial year of exploring piano, my classes became preparation for the exams, my repertoire the monotonous pieces dictated by the examination board. Music became another task to tick off on my to-do list.  

The summer before entering seventh grade, the missing catalyst of my interest in music came when my teacher proposed that I play a new piece, but this time, for fun. It was the first time I could select my own music, and it made all the difference. The piece I chose was “Summertime” by George Gershwin. A jazzy swing piece that begins softly with climaxes and speeds at various points, I knew I wanted to play “Summertime” the instant I heard it. I spent a majority of that summer practicing the piece—self-initiated practice, not practice after repeated reminders from my mom. 

I discovered that music isn’t simply something to put on a college application form or confined to a narrow genre (and that music within a genre can vary significantly!). I began to actively search for music I enjoyed, so that piano wasn’t an obligation, but rather, a hobby. I expanded beyond piano and began to do the same with violin, and joined my school’s symphonic and jazz band. I went to my first orchestral concert last year and I marveled at the players’ synchronization and skill. The whole experience revealed what could be achieved with decades of practice, and whatever I’ve been doing seemed incomparable; it motivated me to put forth more effort so I could play harder pieces that I enjoy.  

Over the years, I learned to appreciate music, to have fun with it. Certainly, I continue with the exams and play what is necessary, but I include pieces that I like to my daily practice so that I have a balance. Nothing beats the feeling of being able to play an anime opening on the piano!