Piano Lessons on Easy

I got a beautiful piano for my birthday a couple years ago because I wanted to be able to play music.  I played piano as a kid and was good; really good.  I remember playing in this huge church in front of nuns in full habits for some music test when I was maybe 9.  I remember being irate when they gave me C+s until someone calmed me down and explained that C+s were the best you could get for that particular test.  I’m sure I was crying.  The piano made me cry.  At that time I cared about the grades, I didn’t connect to the beauty I was creating through my talent.

Then, I quit because I didn’t want to practice.

I picked it back up in college.  I remember playing for a friend in the dark in one of the tiny practice rooms on campus because she wanted to see how well I actually knew what I was playing.  Etudes in the dark. The amazing resonance of the keys when all other stimula was removed.  I cared about the connection to the music and the beauty I felt when I was playing it.

Then, I quit because I didn’t have a piano to practice on.

When we got the piano a couple of years ago I found a teacher and started taking lessons.  I remember being frustrated.  How on earth could I be so poor at something I used to be so good at?  I was fixated on the gap between what once was, and where I was.  I didn’t connect to anything other than frustration.   I wanted to be able to play something, anything, for nuns or not, in the dark or not.  I just wanted to play.

Then, I quit because I was bored with theory and after months I couldn’t play anything.

I saw a Living Social deal several months ago for 2 lessons at Global Sound Studio right near my house.  I thought, “What do I have to lose?”  I bought the deal.  A few months later I cashed in on the deal and met the team who assured me they would be flexible and they’d work with me to achieve my goals.  They said they’d make sure I could play something if that’s what I wanted.  They said I could reschedule at any time.  They made the prospect of playing the piano again EASY and SUPPORTIVE.  Melissa set me up with my Living Social lessons and I was sold on continuing.  I had a few lessons with Ryan who is an amazing teacher.

Then, I practiced

Then, my husband recognized what I was playing, and he clapped for my effort

Then, I smiled and practiced more

Then, my godfather died

Then, I had to have shoulder surgery

And, I didn’t quit

Then, I said I was bored with the easy pieces

Then, I got frustrated with the Lion King being too hard and I didn’t practice

And, still, I didn’t quit

I showed up to the lesson laughing.  I learned that easy is ok, and often beautiful.  An ongoing lesson for me in that things don’t have to be hard to be enjoyable, successful, beautiful or anything else.  I learned that forgiving ourselves is easy if we allow it.  I learned that the only standards I have to live up to are the ones I set for myself; which ironically are the easiest to let go of.

Thanks to Ryan, Melissa and the team at Global Sound Studios for the lessons in piano, and in life.

Now, it’s time to go practice, play, and connect to the beauty I’ll be creating, however simple.  It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.  Sometimes it’ll be more, sometimes less, and both are wonderful.