As some of you might be aware, I have been learning to play piano for the past two months.
In my previous post, I mentioned how piano has brought happiness to my life. I love all types of piano music but find myself drawn towards classical piano. I really love the romantic era which gave us great music from composers such as Franz Liszt, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Frederic Chopin, Alexander Scriabin, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Not only have I been studying piano technique and music theory, I have also been studying the great composers such as Johannes Brahms, Johan Sébastien Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and others including the great Romantic era composers mentioned in the previous paragraph.
I think it’s time for me to start writing articles about these great composers whose music has brought such joy to my life.
I have always been fascinated by the piano. Ever since I was a little boy, I was in awe whenever I saw someone play piano. I always thought that it would be nice if I could also play. Somehow I just didn’t believe that I could ever learn to play because it all seemed so complex.
I wasted most of my life loving the piano while procrastinating that one day I will take lessons. I suffered a horrific hand injury during my high school years which messed up my mind for years to come. I realized that I could never learn to play piano due to the partial severing of a digit.
The pandemic has left me in isolation for most of the time. I have had a lot of time to take on new hobbies but the piano did not cross my mind. I started this blog among others, and some web projects. I focused on my career at work. Work kept my mind off the doom and gloom of isolation.
To cure the boredom, I finally subscribed to Netflix last year. I am pleased that they show many foreign films. I much prefer watching foreign movies over Hollywood. I love to watch Korean dramas and started watching one particular drama called Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol which is about a pianist as described below.
From Netflix:
A riches-to-rags pianist who loses everything but her smile is guided by twinkling little stars to a small town where she finds hope, home and love.
Naturally I am enjoying this drama. It is set in beautiful South Korea, which is my second home. Whenever I watch Korean movies and dramas, I long to return to my “home.” I hope to visit in 2022.
One particular Sunday, I received a call from a dear friend in Korea. While catching up with her (we keep in touch 1-2x per week), I told her about the drama. She did not know that I love piano and said that she too loves it. She suggested I listen to some of her favourite pianists.
After the call ended, I found myself listening to piano music for the next several hours before cooking dinner then settling in to watch Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol. I had dubbed that day, my Piano Day.
The following Tuesday, I decided to ask a colleague at work for some suggestions. I knew she was a pianist from back when we worked in the office. She suggested two amazing pianist from Japan. While chatting, she said that I should get myself a piano and learn to play.
After work, I started looking online for electronic keyboards since there is no way I could a) use a grand piano in my condo and b) afford a grand piano. The electronic ones are good because I can practice all night using headphones when it gets too late.
I spent several hours researching online and checking out different retailers. The following evening, I did the same. I finally set my mind on one and placed an order. The delivery arrived the next evening (Friday).
Friday evening after work, I set up my new piano and started playing around. I tested several teaching apps and lost track of the time.
I tested the Simply Piano application and was pleased with how quickly it got me playing a few notes and reading the score. Over the next two weeks, I tested several applications before settling on Yousician Premium+.
In addition to smartphone applications, I also enrolled in an online course via Udemy. I have since purchased several books on piano and music theory.
Since getting into piano, I have found that I feel much happier than I have in years. The isolation felt due to the pandemic is gone while I am playing the piano. Now that things are opening up and we can go out (with limits), I find that I am more interested in staying home playing piano.
I am looking forward to the return of live music to Toronto. I plan to attend piano recitals and performances at various venues throughout the city.
The piano truly has brought happiness to my life.
This post now lives on FanClassical, a site for classical music by yours truly.
