Kat with a K

Realization

When I was twelve or thirteen, I was consistently annoyed with my piano teacher because she made everyone play Chopin all the time. I wanted to play Bach, but no, it was Chopin Chopin Chopin. She looooved Chopin. One day, she told me that I was just too young to get it. She said I had to grow up and fall in love and have my heart broken and come out on the other side, and then I would appreciate Chopin.

Now that I've started playing again, fifteen years later, I realize that she was completely right.

(But I still prefer Bach.)

Piano Update

I ordered a digital piano (and found exactly what I wanted on sale, even!) at the beginning of the week, and UPS says it will arrive today. I am beyond excited. I'll take a picture to properly introduce you as soon as I get it set up. And it will need a name, of course . . . hmmm . . .

Lunchtime Update: UPS still says it is scheduled to arrive today, but while the stand says it is "Out for Delivery," the keyboard itself (different tracking number) does not. Bah.

Time for a new/old hobby

At my parents' house the other night, I played the piano for a few minutes, and it was the most relaxing thing I've done in recent memory. I took lessons from about age six to fourteen, but I hadn't really played in years. From age ten to seventeen or so, the violin was my main instrument, and I was pretty serious about it for a while. I still play sometimes, but I discovered that, for whatever reason, I get more out of playing the piano at this point. I don't know if it's because I started it earlier, or was never quite as serious about it, or maybe because the piano just works better as a primarily solitary instrument. It's also much easier to just sit down and play for a few minutes - getting out the violin and bow and tuning and everything is much more of a process.

I was going to say that it seems like piano playing might be one of those "like riding a bike" things, but honestly, I've always found it much easier to play the piano than it was to ride a bike. In any event, I did better than I'd expected; I found the sheet music for a Bach piece I'd played years ago, and I certainly didn't do a good job of it, but I managed and I think it was even recognizable. And it was just so much fun. When I got home last night, I pulled out all my old sheet music, and - well, for one thing, it's certainly an interesting mix that I might have to write about at some point. For the moment, it's all sitting on my kitchen table, and it's so nice to have it out, especially my beloved Bach . . .

All of which is to say: I think I'm going to finally do what I've been talking about doing for years and buy a digital piano. (More affordable and easier to handle than a real piano.) And I'm determined to get into the habit of playing regularly. I'll let you know how it goes.