human body and discovered networks of muscles that worked together for one motion. During practices, I was knowledgeable enough to adjust my teammates’ form to help prevent injury and enhance their performance. Guiding people through correct motions will Hearing Fur Elise on my grandma’s radio prompted me to start piano; however, it wasn’t until three years later when I witnessed Yundi Li’s performance at the San Francisco Symphony Hall that I wanted to learn more about piano. The music I heard that day changed my perspective of playing piano entirely. I began to coexist with music, weaving it into my daily activities and using it to enhance my passions.
Early in the morning and late at night, I immerse myself in music, listening and watching various piano performances. Even after long days at school and track practice, I would head towards the piano the moment I came home. By spending hours analyzing my pieces, I am able to inject some innovation, be it a tempo or dynamic change, altering the pieces to become unique to me. Years of practice passed by, along with Distinction in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and final Associated Boards of Royals Schools of Music piano exams. Anyone can play the notes of a piece, but my ability to incorporate my emotions into the music allowed me to pass even one of the most difficult recitals, an exam to receive the Diploma for Music Performance. One would assume that so much time dedicated to piano is detrimental to my other activities; however, my focus translates to other tasks and makes me less easily distracted.
Less time to sleep is a consequence of many hours of piano, but it does not account for my lack of dedication in all other areas in life.
I used to sleep at maximum four hours a day because of my addiction to video games and procrastination with homework. Fixing my habits was the only way to continue piano at a high level, so I stopped playing video games and started to approach teachers with questions after school. Hours of analysis and piano practice led me to dissect the content of textbooks rather than simply skim through them. By scrutinizing the content, I was able to complete homework faster and have an easier time with exams. Instead of cramming the day before, I only need to briefly review the contents of the chapter or section the exam was testing.
My dedication to piano not only helps me in school;, it also helps me cope with the ongoing court battle between my divorced parents. Practicing piano or even sitting on the bench relieves the mental duress from my parents’ separation. I use piano as an outlet for my emotions, releasing all my tension from the day and letting me peacefully transition to the next. Piano offers a distraction from my parents’ fighting, which consequently allows me to chase other ambitions. Efficient timing of school and piano gives me extra time to pursue my passion:
track.
Beyond simply giving me time to participate in track, piano gives me the skills to thrive during workouts and competition. As a sprinter, I have to dedicate hours in the weight room to make sure my body is in the best possible condition. Incorporating a steady rhythm into repetitions of squats and deadlifts allows me to optimize my weight training, translating into superior performance in my sprints. On the track, the 110 meter hurdles exemplifies the need for rhythm. Eight steps to the first hurdle and three steps in between each hurdle sounds simple enough, but a step too fast or too slow will lead me crashing into a hurdle, ending my race. Similarly, rushing through a piece or performing it too slowly will cause it to crash and burn or lose its initial message.
Music has not only been a catalyst in my development, it has also been an outlet for my emotions. The dedication I have to chase my dreams only increases as my love for music grows. Music makes me the person I am today and will continue to enrich my life. their physical health, as well as enhance the body’s recovery through actions such as ankle twists. By learning more about how the muscular and skeletal systems of the human body interact, I hope to be able to assist other people who have also gone through pains due to incorrect body posture.