Daily Gratitude - Day 8

Being able to play the piano brings me enormous pleasure. I’m no concert pianist and I’m a teensy bit jealous when I hear someone play with that kind of technical skill, but, mostly, I just feel lucky, pleased and grateful that when I see a sheet of music, I can figure out what it sounds like. I can read the rhythm and the notes and not only enjoy this blessing in my own life but use it to bless and enhance the lives of others.

There are so many things I can do because I studied piano in my youth. I think of music almost like a foreign language: everyone can appreciate the sounds and cadence of a piece of music but when you can read it...play it...hear it fluently, then the language is useful tool in communicating with others and enhancing life. I love being in choirs. I love accompanying musical numbers. I love teaching music. I love hearing and recognizing musical theory.  I really attribute a lot of my musical confidence to understanding the language of music.

Sure, I could have learned how to confidently read music from other types of lessons (guitar...violin....oboe...didgeridoo) and participating in choirs definitely had a part in helping my brain interpret the sounds and little black notes on a page but I think piano, with its 88 keys and multiple staffs, is most like a master key to that musical lock. It’ll get you into any musical door!

I guess that’s why I just felt as pleased as punch when my boys played in their recitals today. Sam, who I can learns music the way I did, was a lot better than his duet partner (today. Normally, he plays his part better) and I was happy with his polish. Henry, whose brain can read more advanced music than his uncoordinated fingers can play, is progressing every day. I love sharing this language with them. I love knowing that with each lesson...each recital, they unlock more and more doors into this joyful, musical world.