Today I return to piano lessons. I’ve taken a five week hiatus, the first ever since I started with teacher Julia Oberheu going-on six years ago. It’s been strange.
I took the break because I could see that there would be no time to practice during the five weeks in question. I was either traveling or entertaining or both. So, to make it easy on myself, I went on “piano vacation.” This is not to say I didn’t play; I just didn’t practice. There’s a difference.
I spent whatever time I had for piano working on pieces I’d already learned, trying to eke more from them, applying knowledge I’d learned since I worked on them to make them better. It’s an ongoing process. I chose five pieces that still had something to teach me.
In 1970, Jack Nicholson starred in a film called “Five Easy Pieces,” about a former piano prodigy who is estranged from his family. When his father becomes ill, Nicholson decides to return home for a visit. There were five easy classical pieces played throughout the movie. Two were by Chopin; and two were by Mozart, with the remaining one a Bach fugue.
None of my pieces is classical; rather I borrowed from movies and tradition. My pieces were “Over the Rainbow” (The Wizard of Oz), “Hello, Young Lovers (The King and I), “Send in the Clowns” (A Little Night Music), “Amazing Grace,” and “Danny Boy.” I’m no prodigy either, but today I returned to my piano classroom and played for Julia. I’m happy to be back and eager to learn something new.
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