Piano

During the past year, I really have started missing playing the piano.  I began taking piano lessons in the first grade, and I continued through ninth grade (I think).  As a child, I didn't appreciate playing the piano primarily because I was required to do so a certain amount of time each week.  Thus, I usually spent at least 30 minutes every night in a room all by myself playing until Mom finally would say that my time was up.  The minutes always crept by.  If I stopped playing for any length of time, Mom would add minutes to my total time required.

Nearly every year that I played, I participated in a piano recital.  Although I enjoyed learning to play a tune so well that it actually sounded like music when I played it, I always was nervous about playing in front of a crowd.  I can still recall dressing up for the recitals, walking up the stairs to the piano, playing in front of the audience (consisting of proud parents and siblings who didn't want to be there), and curtsying at the end.  I think my favorite recital piece was Fur Elise. 

Of course, playing the piano had its perks even when I was young.  For many years, my piano lessons took place during school hours, so I was excused from class each time I had a piano lesson.  My Mom also wanted me to learn techniques from more than one person, so every two years or so, I started taking lessons from a new teacher.  Each of my four teachers was quite different from the others.  The most gifted teacher could play very well by ear and would often compose music for our school plays.  Since I do not have the gift of playing by ear, I learned the most from the teachers who also played by sight.

Because I was so busy with academics and sports during high school, I eventually convinced my parents to let me stop taking piano lessons.  Of course, now I wish I had continued lessons at least until I started college.  While in college, I played the piano every now and then at church when the other pianists were not available to play; however, I rarely practiced, so I wasn't very good.

It's been years since I have played the piano for more than a few minutes, and I would love to start again.  I think it would be so relaxing to spend a few hours each week developing my skill.  Of course, I live in a neighborhood and would not want to force all of my neighbors to hear my hours of practice.  Thus, I am considering purchasing a piano style keyboard.  I decided to look on Craig's list tonight, and I found one that I like.  I haven't decided yet, but I just might buy it!