Personal Narrative: How Music Influenced My Life

When I was younger, I was shy and quiet. I used to be afraid to talk to others and often kept things to myself. One summer, my parents enrolled me in piano lessons so that I had something to do. Initially, I was hesitant to join, but I soon began to appreciate music and its significant influence in my life.

A year after I began my lessons, my teacher assigned a new piece called Fandango. It was a tango type of song, with lyrical melodies and dramatic notes. This song was fierce, bold, and loud – completely opposite of who I was at the time. This posed a challenge for me. My teacher wanted me to play it a couple months later at a performance festival where I would be judged. I was skeptical to perform it in front of a large audience. However, I was determined to master the piece. It simply wasn’t enough to memorize the song; rather, to interpret and perform it in a dramatic and unique style was more important. As I practiced the piece, it felt awkward at first to sway my body with the music and hum the melody out loud. I was pushed to my comfort zone, but for the better. Over time, I became more comfortable with the piece. I played the song with more expression and emotion. Months later, I performed the song at the
Learning piano was like learning a new language. It allowed me to communicate with others in a different, more expressive way. When I play piano, I am immersed in a different world where my creativity shines through. For the past ten years, I have continued my piano lessons and performed at many recitals and concerts. I have earned many accomplishments, including a gold cup and five consecutive Superior ratings from performances. Music has given me opportunities to let go and be myself. It has shaped me into an ambitious person, willing to try new things with an open mind. Piano has become so essential in my life and has helped me flourish from a shy girl into a confident young