Sullivan Repost

For about 6 years of my life, I’ve loathed playing the piano. Every day after school, I would have to practice the abhorrent instrument for hours and hours. From scales to musical theory, the instrument required perfection, and I am no perfectionist. Eventually, frequent arguments broke out between me and my parents over the quality and quantity of my practice.

While finding music on Youtube one day, I stumbled upon a composer named Ludovico Einaudi. Unlike baroque music, Einaudi was a minimalist composer; he created very simple songs that were refreshing compared to the old and rustic music of Mozart and Bach. Eagerly, I found the score for the piece and printed it out. Unsurprisingly, the music was quite easy when I began to play it. Even so, I was drawn to this minimalist style; it was so open to interpretation and relied more on the performer then on the composer. This single piece, titled Oltremare, helped me realize that there was music out there that I was willing to play. Through experimentation with a variety of music, I’ve found that even ancient composers such as Debussy appeal to my musical taste.

Gone are the days where I throw away the opportunity to learn music. Bach and Mozart are still required for technique, but I am sure to supplement my musical education with music by Einaudi and Debussy. My piano instructor disagrees with some of the pieces I choose to play, but he understands that the key to being good at something is enjoying what you do. Once I realized that I could actually enjoy playing the piano, I practiced.