Why I'll Never Be a Virtuoso...

Alas! There are many things in life that I'd like to be, but there are just some things that I wasn't fashioned to be. I have loved the piano since I was teenie weenie girl. I remember standing on my tip toes with my hands on the edge of the keyboard to watch my older sister play piano and asking her to teach me to play a song. Well, I started lessons at age 8 (four years later than I wanted to start) and found I had a natural ability at picking up the instrument. So after three years I was where a typical five year student would be and felt pretty proud of myself! I continued lessons a sporadic few more years after that. Before I get too puffy in any one's eyes, I want to make a list of some reasons that I will never be what I would love to be!


1. Lack of Patience/Practice - So this is the biggest reason for anybody I'd imagine! You must be able to practice hours a day and for this you need to be focused and driven. I've always had the hardest time enduring practice because I just want to play it "right" right now! And there were always so many other things I wanted to do - like daydream.

This is a piece I've practiced in between daydreams for a long time and will someday get around to mastering - it sure is fun!







2. Hand size - The Lord saw fit to give me stubby fingers.

For the accomplished pianist, a span of nine notes is essential and mine is eight. A comfortable ten note span is even better (unless you're playing Rachmaninoff in which case you may even need thirteen note span).

My comfortable eight note span.

My uncomfortable nine note span which makes simple pieces as Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata a bit awkward.

3. I freak out if I have to play for an audience. Well, one might say you could still play good piano without playing for others, but the fact is ... a good pianist has an instructor and peers that do listen!

So those are the top three reasons. I'm refusing to say that I don't have the talent for it, but one might look at the above list and decide I don't! I guess I'm not ready to let go of all my pride! Since not many of you will ever hear me play - well you'll never know just how good I am (heehee-hee)!

Occasionally (like after a symphony) I wander through a music store and pick up pieces of music that are like a "wish list". Pieces that I will never accomplish ... but just in case I ever start those lessons again - well I'd sure like to tackle ___ piece. One of these is pictured below (I finally gave my Rachmaninoff away).