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In Memory of the Piano
Monday, February 2, 2009 @ 7:49 PM

Music is everybody's possession. - John Lennon

I often ask myself why classical music is so important to me. Is it because it is cool since the genre is "exclusive" to some people? Those who play instruments or who are born into specific families or those who are rich? Is it because I merely want to play an instrument to show others that I can? Is it because I like knowing something that other people don't? Is it because I lack a sense of fulfillment and have nothing else to do, so I choose to occupy my time with this? With music?

In truth, I didn't know how to answer, because I admit that at some point or another, I did answer a "yes" to all of those questions. No doubt about it. But I knew that that wasn't it—not the exclusivity, the superiority, or the occupancy of time; because if it was, then I would have already quit, again.

I wouldn't feel the way I do when I play or listen, if those were the reasons that classical music became part of me. I wouldn't take the time to read about the composers and their respective works. I wouldn't examine the sounds and brands of different pianos. I wouldn't waste money and paper and ink on my sheet music. Not that much, anyway.

And so right now, I don't know. I don't know why classical music is so important to me, and I believe that that's partly because I am just a beginner, and the other part is that I don't exactly know what it completely makes me feel. Alive? Amazed? Intimidated? I don't know; perhaps all of them. Perhaps the feelings that contain me when I involve myself in classical music are just too strong and inexpressible to encapsulate into words that it overwhelms me to think and to ask what is the importance of music?

It makes me free.