Getting beyond rote practice

Thanks to the coercion and coaxing of my parents and the piano teacher, in my last year of primary school I finally achieved the piano certificate, the "end-goal" of many young piano learners.

However, I seldom touched the piano during middle school and high school, because of the heavy schoolwork.

This was not uncommon; many of my childhood friends abandoned the piano as well. The instrument sat silently somewhere in their homes or their parents off-loaded them to relatives or friends.

It was not until my college years, when I studied abroad in the United States, that I truly appreciated the beauty of the piano. At that time, there was an old piano in the basement lounge of my dorm building, and whenever I felt lonely or wanted to escape my academic burden, I would go down to the basement to play the piano, playing from sheet music I downloaded from the Internet.

Gradually, I found that playing the piano could be a way to express my emotions and thoughts. It was also relaxing and entertaining, I would savor each tiny triumph of translating the notes with my mind and my fingers.

Now playing the piano is a hobby that I can enjoy, or I will play it to entertain my parents or friends.