I play piano

I started playing piano over fifty years ago. My father grew up in a poor family and he did not get to take music lessons despite having great natural ability. When I was in fourth grade I had to take piano lessons. I never had much ability and I learned slowly. After three or four years, I got the idea that I could "make my own music": I could write and perform music that I made up myself. Slowly I sat at the piano and tried to listen to how notes sounded together and I tried to keep a steady rhythm. I learned the blues progression. I never thought I would ever be good enough to be a professional musician because my father was so much more talented than me. But I loved playing music and I kept trying to play music. To me that is the definition of "love": To do something because it is good to do and regardless of the reward the action might bring. If we love a person, we help them whether or not they can pay us back. At some point in my life, I realized that my perception of life and love is different than most of America: most people are selfish, ignorant, short sighted, mean and opportunistic. I just do not understand those people because I play piano. I know what love really is.  I play the piano.

copyright (c) 2019

William Schaeffer