With Thanksgiving upon us, it’s time to show appreciation to the people and opportunities that allowed us to follow our dreams. While becoming a full-time pianist is not in my plans, the process of learning piano, as well as working here at Oclef, has taught me so much.
I want to start off by thanking my parents for giving me the opportunity to explore music and for being patient with me every time I got frustrated. Although it may not seem like it, parents are always aiding us to be the best version of ourselves. I’m incredibly grateful for not giving up on piano, even with the obstacles of practicing.
Piano not only helped me improve my hand-eye coordination but was the stepping stone to learning other instruments! The theory and mechanics I mastered served as tools to help me learn the violin and flute. I fell in love with the violin, especially, which wouldn’t have been possible without my journey with piano.
The road to mastering piano doesn’t have to be as difficult as it may sound. People tend to quit at an early age because they haven’t found something they liked or often, not liking to practice. Oclef eases this frustration, especially with the Kaizen classes. Oclef provides a practice environment that makes students want to musically express themselves. From coming in every Thursday, I’ve observed various students, each with focus and motivation to invest time in improving. I can’t say I was the same when I was younger. I’ve always found it a struggle to find time to practice, despite how much I enjoyed playing.
I can’t help but wonder how my journey would’ve been different if I had a school like Oclef to guide me. In fact, let’s all take this chance to reflect on our passions, which we might possibly take for granted.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Adele Nguyen, Piano Instructor
