There's no doubt about it: music brings a dose of happiness to our lives, and I'm sure we can all nod in agreement.
While relishing someone else's melodious tunes is delightful, there's an unparalleled joy in creating music yourself!
So, let me regale you with how I rekindled the dormant musical flames within me, which had been snoozing for quite some time.
I recently strolled into Ryde Library and stumbled upon an unexpected sight - a grand piano!
"A piano in a library?" I pondered, only to later speculate it might be for some special event. My skepticism was shattered when I heard someone tickling the ivories right there in the library. "Wait, anyone can play this thing?" I thought, and then I spotted a sign outlining the piano rules.
Turns out, if you're at least grade five (in Piano) and can conjure up something suitable as background music for a library (so, alas, no "Chopsticks"), you're in. You must perform complete pieces, and the maximum solo time is 30 minutes.
Well, this was quite encouraging! I thought, "Maybe I can aim for this." You see, I dabbled in piano and flute during my school days, but it's been over two decades since I last practiced. However, the idea of revisiting my musical roots has always lingered in the recesses of my mind.
Music undoubtedly elevates your life's quality, but like anything worthwhile, it demands dedication and effort to truly savor.
In my case, motivation was the missing ingredient.
Now, performing in a library may not be as nerve-wracking as a grand piano recital, but it still qualifies as a public performance.
It means dusting off those keys and practicing, bolstering your confidence, and conquering stage fright.
I figured that having a repertoire of pieces I can perform confidently before an audience would be incredibly cool!
So when the notion of gearing up for a library performance popped into my head, I thought, "I better seize this before it evaporates into thin air!" Haha. I sifted through my music collection and picked out pieces perfect for a library concert - gentle, flowing, and soothing.
My inaugural choice for practice was Chopin's "Waltz in A minor," considered one of his easier waltzes.
It's still elegant and charming. Since my goal is to play publicly, my approach to practice is now laser-focused.
I must play with finesse, ensuring I can perform seamlessly without hiccups.
Speaking of which, it's amusing that I uploaded a video of my progress on Instagram, only to have it removed due to a mysterious copyright violation. Copyright on Chopin? I mean, when did we need permission to play the piano ourselves and share it on Instagram? Perhaps they mistook my rendition for a famous pianist's work - who knows? ha ha.
Anyway, fingers crossed that I keep up the momentum and eventually make it to the library for that performance!
Wish me luck, and stay tuned for more musical adventures!
P.S.
For those who are interested in getting a digital piano, I recommend hiring one first before making a purchase. The one I have at home is quite good, and I only pay about 20 dollars a month to hire it. I may actually write a separate blog article about this in the future, but for now, if you're keen on learning any musical instruments, please check out Musicorp below.
Sounds really good Robin!!