A Beethoven sonata? For this pianist, no problem

By Mio Moser | Manor Ink

Over the years, many people have made countless assumptions about me, regarding my personality, interests, hobbies and much more. Despite many of those assumptions being true, something nobody has been able to discern in me is the passion that I hope to form a career out of. It’s the passion that brings me joy as no other does, the passion I am ready to dedicate my life to: classical piano.

To clarify, I play works written by composers of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and early 20th-century eras. This time span encompasses roughly 300 years, from 1600 to 1900. Contemporary and popular music has never interested me greatly, nor do I tend to pay much attention to it. One in my situation is deeply fascinated by the world of classical music, completely engulfed in its extraordinary tradition, captivated by its magical appeal.

I was first confronted with the possible idea of learning a musical instrument at the age of seven, when my parents suggested the possibility. Initially, I was rather reluctant to introduce yet another activity to my schedule, which was already busy enough for a seven year old. But with gentle pressure from my mother, I then accepted it and began taking piano lessons once per week.

The start was rather rough, navigating through various instruments and teachers, until I was able to settle with a teacher whom I really appreciated. The more I grew musically, the more I was able to appreciate this teacher’s gentle guidance and support. Nonetheless, I wanted a challenge.

Thus, I presented my teacher with a newly acquired edition of Beethoven’s complete piano sonatas, a sort of Mount Everest for pianists. He denied my request to play them, as he, almost in shock, proclaimed that I hadn’t reached the required level to play these masterpieces.

Not willing to accept defeat, I took the book home and began working on it. Progress was slow, but eventually I had built up the confidence to bring the piece back to my teacher. He was instantly impressed by my ability to learn a piece that was so far above my level all on my own. Additional months came and went when my teacher ultimately suggested that I should be receiving a proper music education. My family took his advice, and I was enrolled in the Bard College Conservatory of Music pre-college program, where I still study to this day.

As I mature over the years, music will become more of a staple in my life than it already is. I now consciously realize how important music’s value and lessons are in my life, and they will only progress and become stronger. The beautiful thing about music is that, unlike sports, it can often be practiced over a whole lifetime. After all, some of the most respected pianists are well into their seventies. As for now, I can only hope this will someday be me as well.