Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Pathetique


I've been taking piano lessons for four months now. I last took lessons when I was twelve, thirty-eight-years ago. Thirty-eight. When I started up in March I remembered more than I thought I might and yet could drive a giant piano truck through the holes left in my knowledge. I practiced. I tried.

In early May I injured my thumb by dropping a twenty-pound bag of ice on it, while preparing for Bob's birthday party. Two weeks later, I was to have played at a recital at my nineteen-year-old teacher, Audrey's house along with her kindergarten and first grade students. My thumb kept me out. I was disappointed. I wore my thumb  brace-thing for a week or so and then kept on practicing.

Four weeks ago I started learning Beethoven's Sonata No. 8 Op. 13, called Pathetique. As I started learning, "Pathetique" kept to its name. My efforts were indeed, pathetique. Two weeks ago, I got the time of my lesson wrong and missed it. Pathetique. I kept practicing. Last week, I got the location of my lesson wrong and missed it. Pathetique. I still practiced. It seemed no better.

Just this morning, while practicing, something finally clicked. I can now play the song straight through, no glaring mistakes, no cursing. This afternoon, I have another lesson. I know where and when. I will be there. I pray my nerves won't get the better of me and that I will be able to play the song for Audrey the way I know I can. Perhaps less pathetique.



10 comments:

  1. I don't think this is pathetique at all! I think it's, um...tres swell!

    XO
    A.

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  2. I took lessons for the first time in life as an adult. I got OK at and then let it slide. Keep practicing. You'll get better and better.

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  3. Kudos for your diligence! My 65 year old mother started playing in her 40's and still plays to this day!

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  4. I took piano lessons when I was 25, and got to be pretty decent. Then my teacher told me about the recital I had to be in. A 25-year-old and seven 9-year-olds? Oh hell no! So she said she wouldn't teach me anymore. Now, at almost 59, I think I want to try again. But NO recitals for me!

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