Every time I hear the choir or hear the organ or hear the piano, I think of my mother, who said, “I love all the acclaim that has been given you, all the degrees you have obtained, and all the work you have done. My only regret is that you did not stay with the piano.” Thanks, Mother. I wish I had.
“I’m so glad I quit piano when I was a kid.”
That is one thing you will never hear anyone say. I cannot even begin to count the times someone has said to me, “Man, I wish I’d stuck with piano. My mom tried to get me to, but I just wouldn’t.” I think I hear that every day.
I had to stop taking piano lessons when I was 16, for various reasons, and it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I had a lot of other things going on– I was really involved in sports and my classes– but I just couldn’t go on without piano. And then I found myself a music major, a year into the education program, because I just couldn’t stay away.
I know piano lessons aren’t for everyone, but I’m so grateful I “stuck with it”. I am not and will never be a concert performer, but I’m grateful for the talents I’ve developed from it.
I think this is a lesson for everyone– Don’t quit stuff! Just don’t quit. It may seem “too hard” or “too time-consuming”, but if you just “stick with it”, there won’t be regrets later on. I think every kid deserves a chance to be great at whatever he or she wants, and that can’t happen without sticking with stuff. Not to become an expert, but to make an investment in something.
If you really care about something, time will make itself. I committed to read a book every month, which seemed totally crazy, because I have next to no time. But if you make something a priority, it will happen. Anything can happen.
Ok, I like the line “every kid deserves to be great at whatever he or she wants” because it’s so true that even though a kid may not want to play piano initially, it helps in so many ways and other areas. Like, music theory? Oh my goodness. Guitar/just understanding music/harmonization have helped me so much in my life. And hasn’t it been proven that early music education helps in things like math because kids can understand patterns and progressions easier? Anyway the moral of the story is, music MUST be taught at schools, because if you look at the kids that are the most successful, I really think it’s usually the kids that started with piano lessons when they were in elementary school. And I’m not saying that everyone has to take twelve years of piano and then become a music major. Just that having a basic foundation helps more than any kid will ever know if they have a rough practicing day and want to give it up. …Ok I’m done.
That was great, Dell. Thank you. I completely agree with you, and that’s why it’s my mission to bring music into the lives of as many children as I can. I believe music is a key to success, and belongs in a space in every human’s life.