I started to learn the piano when I was 6 years old. Since then, I completed a few Piano exams, performed in a few concerts, and spent hours and hours of time practicing. My mom wanted me to complete all piano certifications from the Trinity School of Music, London. Trinity offered exams to students around the world to help them certify their musical capabilities. They would send their examiners to India to perform the assessments. These exams required mastery in 3 musical pieces, along with other theoretical & practical knowledge. When I was in my 2nd year of engineering undergrad, I found myself spending too many hours practicing for my 7th grade Piano Exam. This was too much on top of my academic obligations, so I decided to give up.
I was giving up the formal piano lessons that taught me everything I knew about this beautiful instrument. I loved the music, I loved the idea of being a pianist, and I am thankful for all that I learned, but I was not in love with the exams, or the hours of practice for these certified accomplishments and I felt like it was taking away the enjoyment of playing for passion. There was never a time I can remember when I learned a piece for fun, learned a favorite song, or mastered a favorite composer. I played plenty of piano outside my lessons for the church youth group, Sunday school, college events, and I used to teach little kids as well. I loved those activities – I did it out of a passion for it.
Fast forward from then, life happened. I moved away for my Master’s, then to the US, and I lost touch and never played since. A few years back before I had my boys, I had a strong desire to play the piano again. That year, my husband surprised me for Christmas with a beautiful Yamaha Digital Piano.
I sat at this piano and played from memory. And that is when I realized something about music. You can’t love something when you have done it for so long. And you can’t ever forget something that you learned for so long from so young. So, here I am, rediscovering, relearning, and remembering the piano all over again. And this time- with lots of love, passion, and enjoyment, I hope to pass on the same to my kids one day.
Don’t forget to revisit and rediscover the things you’ve loved, the things you’ve grown to appreciate, and the things you’ve lost from your past.
