How often in life do we get a second chance to follow a passion of ours? Mine came only just recently. To be more precise, it was August 17, 2010. Anyone that knows me well, or has read my prior blog about my love of ballet and classical music, knows how much each of them means to me. That I had to make a choice between these two artistic outlets so early in my life was difficult. I would remember that sense of loss. As I looked back at a life path that did not afford me an opportunity until much later on, I regretted the lost time. After the somewhat abrupt conclusion of my dance career at the tender age of 21, my life took a traditional turn toward marriage and raising a family. Thirteen years later, that marriage would dissolve and I would pick up the pieces and move on, to start my life anew. Throughout the seemingly long duration in-between, I never lost my love of the piano. It wasn’t until after I had comfortably settled in to my second and final life relationship with Peter, that my heart began to beat again with a strong desire to resume my piano studies.
It is strange how events in our lives gel at just a precise moment when everything comes together in that perfect harmony, triggering an action. That was what happened one evening when I was doing a search online for a piece of music at Apple’s iTunes store. Over the years, I had built a respectable collection of classical music, ranging from Bach to Prokofiev. Initially, this collection was comprised of LPs, then cassettes, and finally CDs. My desire to acquire beautiful pieces never ended. I was continually amazed when I would discover a piece I had not heard. Having one’s ear caught by a magnificent sound always renews my admiration and love for the genius that created it and the musician that was reproducing the sound today. But there was something quite special about this magnificent movement, written by Robert Schumann. It seemed to speak to me, almost beckoning me to come back to the sound I had always loved.
I began to imagine having a piano in our 2 bedroom condo and wondered if it would even be possible. Living in an apartment building has its limitations and the issue of noise was certainly one of them. I wasn’t sure how I would get around this, but was not going to let it dampen my spirits. I looked up the location of a well-known piano store in our area with which I was familiar. Walking into their showroom was a delightful experience just in itself – to see all the magnificent pianos. I had no idea what to expect with styles, manufacturers, prices and sizes. I asked a lot of questions and was fortunate to work with a superb salesman. Not only did he guide me through the variety of choices, but we clicked as friends through the process of exchanging information on my ability and music background. As much as I wanted to have an acoustic piano in my life, I realized that the size and space issue was insurmountable. I’d also have to limit my practicing to reasonable hours so as not to disturb neighbors. For those that may not know me well, I am a serious nightowl and do my most productive work (needlepoint, writing and now practicing) after midnight. This would definitely present a problem. But my salesman offered a solution: one of Yamaha’s digital pianos, the Clavinova, is entirely electronic and could be either muffled in volume or I could mute it entirely by connecting headphones. 
It also had a much smaller “footprint” which blended in our living arrangement more suitably. This was a fantastic way around my major hurdles, not to mention that I was extremely impressed with the quality of sound produced by an electronic version. I could tell the slight difference, but it was minimal and not enough to deter me from going forward with the purchase. My timing was propitious as well being that many units were marked down for their summer sale. I felt as if the stars were truly in alignment for me.
The next task was to find a piano teacher. Once again, Mark, my salesman, offered invaluable assistance. He pulled out a list of vetted instructors in my area and marked the ones with whom I would be most compatible, in his judgment. Though many instructors will come to your home, I wanted someone in my area for convenience, as well as being able to play their piano in their home. This would allow me to remember the “feel” of an acoustic piano. There is a difference in the touch of the two very different systems – an acoustic piano works off of vibration, with the hammers hitting the strings and then having the sound reverberate off the soundboard of the instrument. Once again, I highly recommend viewing the movie “The Making of a Steinway: L1037” which shows the creation of a piano from the cutting of the wood to being tested in its final stages before going on the showroom floor.
I lucked out and found someone within my neighborhood who is a good fit for me at this point. I had my 3rd lesson today and have successfully completed my first two assigned pieces. We essentially have picked up where I left off and will strengthen weaknesses as we go forward. In the meantime, I couldn’t be happier with my decision to recapture a dream and passion of mine. But unlike my childhood experience, I have a much fuller appreciation as an adult, and almost feel a sense of urgency now that I have resumed this pursuit later in my life. I am looking forward not only to the joy of each coming musical accomplishment but also to having that glorious sound in our home. Peter says it makes him happy to hear me practice and conquer each piece. I intend to make the most of this second chance!
