My Life Journey Through Music

How my passion for music led to the mastery of my instrument

Music has always been the love of my life. I was drawn to it from the day I was born. Everything else in life seemed boring and uninspiring compared to music. As someone with a carefree spirit, I craved to be free. For a creative like me, the possibility of doing anything else in life was slim. So I found my freedom in music.

I never aspired to work a typical 9–5 job. My personality and my spirit were just not a fit for any corporate job. At one point, though, I had a chance to work at one temporary job for a few months. After I got a taste of what the office work was like, I soon realized that it was not for me.

Although corporate jobs are touted by many people to be more financially stable and rewarding, that wasn’t a good enough reason for me to perform tedious paperwork when I could’ve put that time into a creative activity. I aspired to be free, to myself, and my thoughts. Besides, I didn’t want to sell my soul to the devil by pursuing a career that would fill up my pockets but not fill up my soul. So on I went with music and stuck with it. And I don’t regret my decision at all.

The Road Towards Mastering My Instrument

As I was fascinated with music, early on, I committed myself to mastering piano as my main instrument. And when I got into college, it was as clear as the dawn that it would be my calling. So I decided to pursue a B.A. in Music and also get a minor in psychology at the same time.

Being classically trained, I immersed myself in the works of Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin. On a typical day, I would occupy myself with practicing the piano and doing nothing else. There would be days when I’d practice the piano for two to three hours every day. Playing the piano was a vehicle for my inner self-expression, and it was music, more than anything else, where I let my creativity shine.

Practicing every day required discipline and perseverance. If I didn’t practice on a particular day, I felt like my idle hands turned into devil’s tools. Also, if you’re a pianist and you skip a day or two without practicing, you lose your touch with keys. Your technique can get rusty if you don’t let your fingers run through the keys.

From the beginning, I was hooked on reading sheet music. After I laid my hands on one piece, I’d move on to the next. When I was in a flow state, I’d be flipping page after page with great passion and enthusiasm. Working my way through notes and capturing music phrases — the way the composer intended them to be — fascinated me. Difficult musical passages and notation would often stump me and push me to practice even harder to get them right. I felt like all my senses were activated and I was present and actively engaged. Often, I’d be racing against the clock to finish the piece when other things required my attention — mundane things and chores — that I had no desire to do.

Sir Ken Robinson, a leader in creativity and innovation, writes:

“The arts address the idea of an aesthetic experience. An aesthetic experience is one in which the senses are operating at their peak when you are present in the current moment, when you are resonating with the excitement of this thing that you are experiencing, when you are fully alive.”

My daily practice and dedication to my instrument eventually paid off. My musical talents started showing in every piece I played. At the same time, I became a fluent sheet reader from the amount of music I read, which enabled me to read complex sheet music with ease. Having attained musical mastery gave me the confidence I needed to play concerts at special events and church services. I also gave private piano lessons to children and adults.

People who ask me to read through sheet music of songs I’ve never read or heard before are baffled by how I can do it on the spot. They think I have a secret card up my sleeve for doing it so effortlessly. But, I tell them there are no tricks, other than the fact that if you’re committed to your practice, it will show in your performance.

Music Supported Me In Good Times and Bad

There is something else fascinating about music. It always saved me and supported me during dark times. When I hit rough spots in life, music was my savior. When I was struggling financially, it came to my rescue. It always healed me when I was broken. It’s as if music is meant to be my companion throughout my whole life.

I’ve experienced a similar phenomenon with writing — both music and writing trigger a dopamine release in my brain. They both serve as fuel for my creativity. Both music and writing are a doctor’s prescription for my psychological well-being. Just as music makes me happy and content, writing lifts my spirits.

Final Thoughts

With music, just as with any art, you need to be committed to your craft. You can learn any instrument and take it to the next level through dedication and practice if you have a desire to do so. Because loving it is one thing, and putting your time into perfecting your skills is another.

Make sure, whatever creative passion you’re pursuing, you pour your heart and soul into it. No matter who you are — musician, artist, painter, or sculptor — once you find your true passion, work on cultivating your abilities. Commit to your passion and do it with love. The time and soul you put into your craft always pays off in the end.