Piano and Musical Path!
To me, music is not merely an activity. Music is my community. My community is a big tent populated by the musicians I have encountered during the 12 years I have been playing, teaching, and performing piano, tenor sax, and guitar. This community includes a number of people with different roles in relation to me.
When I wanted to share the gift of music, I began to teach youth in my neighborhood. First, I created fliers and knocked on doors until I had five students. Every Sunday, I gave lessons for 30 minutes each, teaching anything from the fundamentals of music theory to intermediate level skills. Teaching the students was the highlight of my week. Each one reminded me of how I started, and how much music helped me later on in life. Many youths in my town had had their music programs cut from their schools, so without this, they may not have had a musical outlet. I felt that it was my duty to my community to help pass on the gift of music. Teaching became a way for me to inspire and bring others into my music community. Inspiration is a term that the music community values highly. I have been inspired by my teachers and other members of the community, whose teachings I pass on when I work with musicians. This circle of inspiration connects me to all who are involved, creating a sense of being part of something more significant, even when I am playing on my own. |