I've been in the zone teaching 5 Free Days of Piano Ninja Tricks on Facebook Live daily.
We started Day 1 with the question…
What is your “Why”? Why do you play piano?
What was your first memory of hearing a piano? What did it feel like as a child to play piano? What did you experience when you heard music for the first time?
While I love teaching all the Piano Ninja Tricks to help pianists play with ease, the most important part is helping them open their hearts to making music.
After I watched the video (below) of our session, I realized that question could be asked about any creative pursuit. Why do you write, paint, bake, craft, dog train, or do any other activity in your life that you're passionate about improving?
When you remember your why and own it, that why belongs to you. Nobody can take that away from you! It lives in your soul.
50 years have passed since I sat at that spinet when I was 7. And still, there's nothing I'd rather be doing with my time at home than spending it at my piano, playing and helping dedicated classical pianists make music with ease.
The next session of Piano Ninja Tricks starts Dec. 15th and enrollment is open until Dec. 13rd, with early bonuses diminishing daily. While my tricks help pianists play effortlessly, what really feeds my soul is helping pianists ignite their passion for making music. And, it's a catch 22. Because when I can help make piano easier, they're more able to make music from their heart.
What's your why for one of your creative pursuits? Thanks for sharing in a comment below.
Thank you for reminding me how important the WHY is. I just had a couple challenging days, but when I remember why this is important, how it’s the direction of what my heart wants for life, as if it’s the only thing that makes sense, the anchoring of the JOY in this WHY, frees me to feel more joy NOW. And this makes all the difference. Thank you so much for this beautiful soul felt acknowledgment and reminder. 💙
Thanks for sharing Teresa. I’m honored I could be a small part of helping you feel more joy!
Lisa,
Boy do your words ever hit home for me! I was 5 when I first asked for piano lessons. Then one day, this old converted upright player-piano (complete with the sliding doors where you could watch the hammers hit the strings) showed up in the den of our house. It was a gift from my great-grandfather, who’d heard of my wish to learn the piano. A German immigrant, he insisted that all 5 of his children learn a musical instrument. My grandmother and her sister both attended Connecticut College for Women (it was called at the time) and even majored in music – something not very common for women in the early 1930’s. My grandmother also played the piano. I used to marvel, watching her hands float across the keyboard so effortlessly. She’d only play one song, which I have finally learned was entitled “Rustic Dance” by C.R. Howell.
When you were telling of the relationship you have with the piano, I finished your sentence “… it’s like an extension of me.” That is how I feel about piano. I can’t imagine my life without it. I always tell people that I’ll never need a human therapist, because playing the piano saves me so much money! LOL
Although I haven’t played as much as I would like lately, during the Christmas season I have tried more often to sit down and play, even if it’s just a couple of songs. Today’s repertoire included some of my favorites, “Christmastime is Here” and the jazzy version of “O Tannenbaum” by Vince Guaraldi. It’s just the most wonderful gift to sit down and play whatever your heart needs to hear at that moment.
That’s a great description Annemarie… piano is an extension of us. And the best therapy! Glad to hear you played more during the holidays. Play On!