Inquiry 1: My History with Piano

keirathompson

Some of my first memories are dancing around the living room with my dad listening to my moms favourite songs at the time. Occasionally I will hear a song for what seems like the first time but it brings me back to the living room at 2 or 3 years old; it is crazy how a simple chord progression can spark memories that are that deeply engrained. This is the driving reason behind my choice to add some songs to my repertoire on the piano.

I have played piano since I was in grade 3, I think my parents thought that putting me into music would help me excel at school (in particular math), and I do not think they were wrong seeing as my degree is in physics and I have a minor in math. I went to piano lessons every Wednesday or Tuesday from the beginning until I graduated high school and parts of me feel bad for putting Mrs. Richardson through so much. She dealt with my not wanting to practice scales or do ear training, but in the end her letting me arrange my own mash-up of songs for my final recital made it all worth it.

I did not stop playing piano after high school, I took the keyboard from my home and subjected my first year roommates to my practicing whenever I was stressed or feeling other big emotions. Now my keyboard sits in my reading nook and I still play it when I am stressed, or waiting for my boyfriend to get ready and leave the house for a date night, but I want to play it more intentionally.

My skill level has stagnated, and I can play a few songs really well:

  • Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
  • Don’t Stop Believing by Journey
  • Skyfall by Adele
  • Piano Man by Billy Joel
  • Golden Hour by JVKE
  • Say Something by A Great Big World
  • The Office Theme Song by Jay Ferguson

But I want to keep learning and adding to my list, here are some songs that I have started to learn and want to keep practicing:

  • Angel by Sarah McLachlan
  • The Winner Takes it All by ABBA
  • City of Stars by Justin Hurwitz
  • Burning House by Cam
  • Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
  • Amongst many others…. but I have to stay focused on a few

So basically, I want to start with a song and practice it until I can add it to my list of “good songs”! For my first post I will include a clip of me playing Piano Man accompanied by my friend Annika Krowitz on the Harmonica, enjoy 🙂