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Personal Statement - Playing the Piano

 

            When I was eight years old, I started playing the piano. It was during my piano playing lessons as a young child that I discovered the power of passion. My desire to learn the songs I heard in the scores of movies I loved began from watching The Pianist. I remember the first time I heard "Nocturne in C Sharp minor" by Chopin performed by Wladyslaw Szpilman in the film. I admired Szpilman's passion and perseverance throughout the movie as he struggled to survive the destruction of World War II. It was his drive to live and play music, his only sole comfort and passion, that influenced me to ask my mom to enroll me in piano and music theory lessons. .
             I still remember my first lesson. I sat up straight on the polished wooden bench and admired the shiny black piano. The smooth ivory and glossy black keys glided under my fingers as I slid my hand across the keys. My teacher presented me with a set of beginner's tunes and the nursery rhyme, "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Disappointed by my novice skills, I struggled to find the keys on the glistening keyboard, building a nest of discouragement. When I played, it sounded like an unfamiliar tune of discordant sounds. At this moment, I remembered Wladyslaw's devastation as he tried to survive the Warsaw Uprising, desperately searching for peace through his courage and passion for music. I also recalled his resilience and commitment to the piano. I mustered my own self-discipline as I began to fathom the arduous process of mastering a musical piece. .
             A few years of continuous endurance and practice, my teacher finally presented me with my dream musical piece. I nervously stared at the crisp white music sheet as I began to sight-read and familiarized myself with the musical dynamics. I struggled to master Chopin's intricate melody, elaborate arpeggios, and ornate crescendos and diminuendos. The struggle of practicing and hearing myself fail felt disconcerting, if not downright devastating.


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