My Passion for Piano

My classmate received an admission notice from a renowned American music academy. I felt genuinely happy for her but couldn't help feeling a tinge of envy. Inspired by the news, I sat down at my piano and began playing "Right Here Waiting for You" by American singer Richard Marx.

My parents had gifted me the piano when I was born. At the age of four and a half, our next-door neighbor, who happened to be a piano teacher, noticed my potential and suggested that I start learning the piano. According to him, aspiring pianists should begin practicing at the age of three and a half. After examining my fingers, he believed I was well-suited for playing the instrument. His wife, a kind-hearted woman, often assisted by picking me up or sending her son to escort me to my lessons. Unfortunately, the piano teacher had a short temper and occasionally hurt me with his words. Perhaps he was more suited for teaching older students. Eventually, his child developed an obsession with games, leading to frequent arguments between the couple and their eventual separation. As a result, I had to discontinue my piano lessons. The piano he had in his home was a baby grand piano, and it produced a beautiful sound. However, over the years, I haven't heard the sound of that piano emanating from their house. On the other hand, my upright piano has excellent sound quality. It was chosen by my musician relatives who visited the piano factory and selected it from among hundreds of pianos.

The piano teacher and my parents were often in a hurry. They didn't consider the fact that starting piano lessons at the age of four and a half caused my fingers to hurt while pressing the keys. It reminded me of my recent experience of planting garlic in a flowerpot. For several days, nothing sprouted, leaving me puzzled. However, yesterday's warmth coaxed a few buds to emerge, though many still lay dormant. Some adults mistakenly expect garlic to sprout the very next day after planting, an unscientific notion. Becoming a professional pianist is a rarity, but playing the piano as a form of entertainment can significantly enrich one's life. My mother once remarked, "Listening to you play the piano while I wash the dishes brings me a sense of contentment." My father jokingly said, "Your piano playing makes me feel like I've entered an exclusive upper-class club." (Lol)

While I may not be destined to become a pianist, my love for the instrument continues to bring fulfillment and happiness to my life and those around me.

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