Saturday, May 22, 2010

My sympathies to you

I play the piano. I started playing the piano when I was 4 years old. You would think I would be a really good piano player by now, but I'm not. I spent too many years without a piano, and my ability suffered.


But one of the best presents I ever received was a gift from Husband: a Yamaha Clavinova. Basically, it's a digital piano with all kinds of buttons and doo-dads. Because Husband bought me a fancy one, my keys are weighted, to simulate the weight of a Yamaha grand piano key.


Recently, my piano has become my best friend. I've been spending every waking hour learning and practicing new songs. It has become my therapy. When I'm pissed off, I play Chopin and bang on the keys, playing deep, long, low notes. When I'm happy, I play the Beatles or Lady Gaga. When I just want to hear the beauty of the piano and the music I make, I play Clare de Lune.


And when I play, I play with all of me. I am complete when I play. I am where I belong. I am my happiest.

So, for those of you out there that can't play musical instruments, where do you find your solace. Where do you go to be comforted? Where do you go to be creative? Where do you go to create what's in your mind? Where do you go to release the angst in you? Where?

I've always felt sorry for people who are not creative or disciplined enough to learn to play an instrument. I feel bad that you are locked in a world without the ability to create something. I feel sorry for you--sorry that you will never know the greatest pleasure of hearing your fingers creating the most wonderful melodies.

What's it like to be locked in a world without music?

1 comment:

Hairpin said...

So, for those of you out there that can't play musical instruments, where do you find your solace. Where do you go to be comforted? Where do you go to be creative? Where do you go to create what's in your mind? Where do you go to release the angst in you? Where?

Proof positive that smart people can say stupid things. Do you believe that one is locked out of music because they cannot play an instrument? I can dance like a maniac trying to match my motion to the rhythm and changes of a song. I can scream and joyfully butcher the best songs in karaoke.

And to say that one can only create something with a musical instrument? Do you believe that? A painter that paints isn't creating? A writer that writes isn't creating? You are an English major and love the Twilight Series. These things are created. I love great movies. Filmmakers create great movies. Robots are created, rockets are created to. Researchers create theories to discover yet unknown secrets.

If you think that solace and relief of stress can ONLY be found tickling the ivories or strumming a guitar, well then my sympathies to you.

Signed,

"I can barely spell piano let alone play it"