Monday, January 17, 2011

(Week 3) - A Passion for the Piano

Keys- both black and white, sharp and flat, that gracefully compose beautiful sound, tremendous emotion, and all the conviction in the world. I love the piano… I began playing the piano when I was nine and have been playing ever since. At first, I was only playing to please my parents but along the way my motivations changed. I developed a great passion for playing the piano and an even greater passion for listening to it. I’m not as skilled at the piano as I wish I were, but it is never the less something that I continue to work at. The piano has so much to offer those who are truly willing to lend an ear.

I never pass up the opportunity to sit at the piano and play, or better yet, sit and listen to others more skilled and capable then I take full advantage of the sounds that the piano can produce. Of all the instruments I have personally come to love, the piano holds a special place in my life because of the emotion I feel it possess in comparison. The piano expresses emotion in the most complicated yet simplistic ways all at the same time. What makes the piano so amazing too is that it has so many ways in which to express those emotions… the speed at which the keys are played, the use of sharps and flats, the different scales and pitches etc. The emotion of the piano is also genuine in expression. The emotion you sense when hearing the piano being played is the same emotion with which it is being played; the sincerest form of communication.

The music I listen is often an indication of the way I’m feeling at that time. As a result of my passion for the piano, my preferences of songs are those with a strong piano portion. I’m sure you all take at least somewhat of a liking to music whether that be classical music, rap, hip hop, country etc. Think about some of your favorite songs… Claire de Lune by Debussy, Mockingbird by Eminem, Don’t Let Me Fall by B.O.B, Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts etc. All of these wonderful songs and so many more express a different emotion (happiness, regret, fear, heart ache) through the incorporation of the piano. Imagine any of those songs without the inclusion of the piano. It would be, for lack of a better word, disgraceful. The piano is something I feel should be cherished and used in its entirety.

3 comments:

  1. I used to play the piano and actually miss it a lot. I quit because my younger sister got better than me, which is unfortunate that I let that get in my way. Don't do what I did! Keep that talent for your use.

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  2. I have such a passion for the piano also. Unfortunately, I have not been able to play as much as I would like since I have been up here. It is hard to find time during the crazy schedule of classes. However, it is a goal of mine this year to start playing at least once a week. I usually do when I am waiting for my laundry to finish :)

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  3. I would love to learn. I'm not sure why I haven't, but it's definitely on my list of life goals. But I'm surprised at the blatant lack of Ben Folds, or Keane! They're both two great piano rock bands, or at least have a heavy emphasis on piano. But I definitely believe that out of all of the instruments, piano conveys the most (and widest range of) emotion.

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