White KeysA Story by Kathryn SmithAs a child my mother said to me: Don't be afraid to lead the way you see and it's only you who knows nobody else can see....
They say you discover your true interests and passions as a child. When we are asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The possibilities are endless! As we get older our dreams usually change and we have to face the fact that becoming the next Beyoncé isn't as easy as we thought it would be. I was that kid who wanted to become a paleontologist/ actress/ model /singer/ mom. Yet there was one more thing I always knew I loved. and that was music. It all began in first grade when my family found out I wasn't kidding. At school our music teacher was introducing us to classical music pieces. For one solid week we listened to parts of a song called "Hall of The Mountain King." At home we had a brand new piano. My sister was working very hard at learning how to read notes and was practicing piano with much determination. One day after school I came skipping home, excited as usual to tell about my day. I joined my sister and mother in the family room who were watching television. A while later, to my surprise, that song my music teacher was obsessed with began to play on an advertisement. My big brown eyes lit up. Thrilled, I darted to our piano. I had never played before and had no idea how to read notes. I cautiously walked up to the giant piano and climbed up on the bench. I began to play around with the beautiful shiny white and black keys. It's been said that in the other room my mother and sister turned to each other in disbelief. To their shock and surprise there was a seven year old playing Hall Of The Mountain King perfectly. The notes were correct. The melody was correct. To make sure they weren't hearing things, my mother tells me she paid close attention to me in the following days. My father had recently gotten the Titanic soundtrack and played it often. Sure enough my family began to hear me plunk out My heart will go on and various things on the radio. That was that. I could play piano by ear. Because of my talent I never bothered learning how to read notes. I tried, but it was always so confusing to me. My parents put me in orchestra. I was stubborn and quite literally wanted to do everything by ear that involved music. My poor music teacher Mrs. Emerson, became quite frustrated with me. She would ask students to come up to the piano to show her that we could read notes properly. When my day came, I failed miserably at it. Yet somehow I was able to play the music without looking at the music sheets. "EYES ON THE PAPER KATHRYN!" is something I still can hear her bellowing loud and clear. I eventually grew tired of orchestra and stuck with choir for the rest of my school years. Even with my choir teacher I continued to epically fail at reading notes...but could always deliver songs on the right key. (I apologize to every music teacher I have ever had! I'm sorry I was such a stick in the mud.) ;) A few years ago in Dublin, my brother wanted to stop and look inside a music shop. I knew we were going to be stuck in there for hours, so I sat down at a piano and began to play. Soon there was a bright flash and a blonde lady kept taking pictures of me. Every time I'd look, she'd dart away and hide...and then she'd come back and watch me..it was one of the weirdest/funniest things I have ever experienced. A while later after I had stopped playing, I heard a voice: Hello there, I love your playing! I turned and looked into the face of a boy about my own age with a very curly afro. Ironically his name was Harry and he was visiting Dublin from Derry. We began to talk and when he found out I didn't know how to read music notes, I wish I could've had a picture of his reaction. I was so flattered because he genuinely enjoyed my playing and kept going on and on about it. I had never really played for anyone, so it made my day and I'll never forget his compliments. Today I still enjoy playing piano. I like to make my own mashups of my favorite tunes. Piano in general is such a wonderful outlet! Whether you are upset, angry, joyous, or even bored...you can always put it all into your music and create something beautiful. A piece of your very own. Though I have been playing for years, I still surprise myself at what I can do. And when I finish a song there's nothing more magical than sitting in the echoing sounds of something you just created on your very own. To every kid out there who can play by ear and is struggling to read notes, do not get discouraged! We're a rare kind. And to every person who is just discovering they can play by ear, soak it in and enjoy it! Never let anyone tell you, you are not a musician. You are. Some of my favorite piano pieces are down below. Enjoy! :)
© 2016 Kathryn SmithAuthor's Note
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