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For 14 years out of my 22 years of life, I played the piano. Throughout that time, I went through 3 different piano teachers, 2 of whom didn’t really teach me all that much, and then finally ended up with my last piano teacher Brian for 8 years I think. During my piano career, my parents poured thousands upon thousands into my lessons/piano/music so that I could play. I played in numerous recitals every year, played in competitions and became a fairly decent piano player. I was even lucky enough to win a competition and recieve the Howard Hanson award my senior year. I was able to play somewhat difficult pieces with enough time and practice.

Fast forward 4 years, and where has all that piano skill gone? Down the drain that’s where. My songs of choice nowadays are Chopsticks, Heart and Soul, and the Moonlight Sonata. Beyond that, I can’t really play anymore. I attempt to play my senior piece, but can only get through like 1 of the 11 pages before I miserably screw up and just stop since it sounds so bad compared to how I used to play. 14 years of learning, practicing, and performing all lost in a mere 4 years.

While piano was forced on me at a young age, and I was required to play till I graduated high school and wasn’t allowed to quit till that time. It definitely became enjoyable as the years went on. At first I hated having to play, and didn’t like practicing, although I still never really practiced all that much when I was older either. I was more into the contemporary music and enjoyed playing it too, although it was just banging on the piano keys to my parents. I thought about playing in college and taking piano lessons as a class my junior/senior years, but realized that it’d be pretty sad to try to pick up at a level far below where I left off so never went through with it. If only I had recorded more of my performances at recitals and competitions.

For now, it looks like it’ll be twinkle twinkle for me…