Learning piano at 6

So proud of Miss 6.

This is what her piano teacher posted on FB about her:

"I absolutely love teaching Jordanne!! She is an incredible individual who inspires me with her determination, perseverance and intrinsic motivation."

Having watched Miss 6 practise through tears, tantrums and lots of self-talk ("Stupid fingers! I have to start all over again!" when she's angry, just "Again" when she's placid), I have to agree with her teacher.

She really is something for a 6 yo. Not a genius like my Indonesian friend whose 8 yo daughter is playing Grade 5 piano, but definitely with lots of potential because she has the heart.

Now, I am pretty sure I didn't inspire my piano teachers at that age, or any age.

I was this really "sian" student who dutifully attended piano lessons right up till LTCL (which I failed twice) because learning piano was a must and opting out wasn't an option. I don't recall ever being passionate or enthusiastic about classical music. I never thought twice about how amazing it was to be able to play Haydn's Symphony in C by heart, or how effortlessly I could improvise and play without scores after I had heard something once or twice.

All that came much much later, years after I was finally done with exams (at the ripe old age of 21) and had purged the need to master a piece to technical perfection out of my system.

Now I play classical piano with less mastery, but more appreciation. My finger work has sometimes surprised me by being stronger and firmer despite lack of practice, and I can feel the music and the spaces between, as though the intuitive and imaginative side of me that has been suppressed has finally awakened.