It appeared one day in our living room. A brand new black Yamaha piano with pristine white keys and a beautiful sound.
I didn’t know it was going to be my enemy for more than a decade.
I was four when my piano lessons began. I had no interest in playing music. I wanted to be a sorceress with the power to move mountains. I wanted to be out there slaying dragons, shooting fireballs from my palms and defending the realm with my trusty two-year-old brother in tow.
Yet there I was every week learning how to play the piano. Plink, plonk, plink went the keys when I dutifully pressed them. It was eating into my “running around saving the world” time. And I must have been resentful.
“Why are you still playing from this book?” my mother once asked. “Your friend next door is already on the next level.”
I didn’t know why I wasn’t improving like my neighbourhood friend. Maybe it was because I didn’t practise. Maybe it was because I felt stupid every time I did practise.
The notes were too difficult. I couldn’t understand the rhythm between my left and right hand. And I couldn’t stand the frustration of working out the notes, especially when it made me feel like I was failing.
The piano was there to tell me I wasn’t good enough. It was there to tell me other kids were better and faster at mastering it. And that I was too stupid to play it properly.
I despised playing our beautiful black Yamaha piano with the perfect sound and the perfect keys.
My parents finally accepted this fact when I became old enough to vote. I was allowed to quit it when I turned 18 years old.
I think I was in primary school when I had the opportunity to play something other than the piano.
I loved the flute. I adored everything about it. The light sound it made. The way the music was in one clef and easy to read. The way it made me feel when I heard the melody.
I thought I had a chance to learn it in Grade Five. The orchestra was looking for more people to join and I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to start a new instrument.
I ran to my parents after school.
“Mum! Dad! The orchestra is looking for more people to join!”
They knew. They had been speaking to the music teacher and knew just the thing I should play.
“It’s the harp!” they said. “Isn’t it great? It is just like the piano but you pluck the strings instead.”
Featured image by Rukma Pratista on Unsplash
Nomad Online 
8 responses to “Not for me, thank you.”
Did you ever get a chance to play the flute? I hope so.
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Hi Judith. I never did! 😭
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Oh heck! Don’t give up. There’s still time to turn into a dragon slaying flute player!
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Yes!! It’s never too late! 🙂
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This is me and the guitar. It stands there mocking me. My husband plays the piano for pure joy and certainly isn’t an expert. I admire his ability to accept his skill level, yet totally enjoy playing. I am a perfectionist and feel like I can’t play until I can play well, which is totally silly, because that is what practice is for. I just don’t think I am musically inclined.
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I agree! I appreciate music, I really do. And I love hearing my husband and son play. I am just not musically inclined.
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Oh… this is sad. I wanted my daughters to play the violin. Like you, they tried, but their heart was not in it. After a few years, they could play in the band at school. My older daughter wanted to play the flute. I thought… OK, I want her to try an instrument of her choosing.
The Band director said, we already have enough flutes, your daughter can play the clarinet.
THAT was upsetting, NOW he was telling me what my daughter should play, but she was set on playing the flute.
So… I told him he could not tell my daughter to play the clarinet. How was he deciding WHO played the flute? He would have to have a drawing, so it would be FAIR to all of those first timers signing up.
Anyhow… I had to push. Result, my daughter played the flute and it was the HAPPIEST time for her. I never had to ask her to practice, she did this on her own.
MORAL OF STORY — we need to let our children choose what they want… in some cases. 🙂 I wish your parents had let you played the flute.
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Awww. Thank you! You are right. It is so much better if children come to us with a passion they want to follow. I am so glad you stood up for your daughter! I hope she had a wonderful time learning the flute!!
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