Like some of my friends, I had piano classes when I was young. It was the closest experience I had with a private tutor or mentor. Each lesson was only 30 minutes long but it always felt like an eternity. Many a times, my heart would be pounding as I dragged my feet to the door of the studio. I knew it would be another dreadful class. I hated the mental distress that I often found myself in.
To my six-year-old brain, the notes in the music score were just so foreign. The 5 lines in the score often set me into a state of mental frenzy and despair. I had difficulty deciphering the notes in the music score, a skill known as sight-reading. I had even greater difficulty putting my fingers together and playing a coherent tune.
Nevertheless, I had a really kind Piano Teacher who taught me the value of practice and hard work. She tried her very best to inculcate a habit of practising the piano in me. She would lavish me with praises and convey them to my dad when I did practise the piano on the rare occasion. Her praises fuelled my desire to practise and improve. I went on to obtain my Grade 3 certificate under her guidance which was a huge feat for me at that point of time.
I know a plentiful of friends who have at least a Grade 8 or advanced certificate later in my school life. However, the ability to play the piano at a Grade 3 level was an achievement to me because I had pushed myself and achieved my goal with the help of my piano teacher.
To me, the piano lessons represented discipline and hard work. Over the years, whenever I felt stressed and challenged, I would always recall my experience of learning the piano. That experience gave me the tenacity and inner power to sit through all problems and dive into them. I will run away from the problems but I will always find my way back to solve them.
Will I make my children learn the Piano?
I am not sure. It depends on the interest of my children. If my children gravitate towards music, I would most certainly give them the opportunities to develop their interests. I have met many friends who picked up a musical instrument (e.g. Violin, Ukulele, Guitar, Sitar) in their late teens and early twenties. Most of them did not have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument when they were young. I applauded their courage to learn something so difficult (at least to me it was).
My friends who persisted in learning do it mostly out of interest and personal development. What I really like about learning as an adult is that you are your most loyal audience and cheerleader. You would never have to feel lousy about yourself because you do not play as well as your schoolmates or cousins, unlike when I was a child. I hope I would never turn it into a competition or a chore for my children, like what was described in the book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mum by Amy Chua, if I ever give them piano classes.
钢琴课如何锻炼我的毅力？
像一些朋友一样，我小时候有机会上钢琴课。那是我毕生唯一体验过有导师一对一教导的经历。虽然每堂课只有三十分钟长，但总是觉得课很长，盼望能快点下课。
还记得当初，我会拖着沉重的脚步走进课室，心里忐忑不安。我害怕老师会教训我没有练习，也讨厌自己会陷入精神恐慌的状态。二十多年后回想起当初的感觉，才恍然发现这就是学习新知识与技能的过程。
对我六岁的小脑而言，乐谱中的音符就是怎么也记不住。五线谱的线条经常使我陷入精神狂躁和绝望的状态。我无法识别五线谱的音符，我更加难以将小小的手指放在钢琴键上，演奏一小首乐曲。
但是，我有一位非常善良的钢琴老师，她传授于我刻苦耐劳地美德。她竭尽所能，培养我每天练习钢琴的好习惯。当我做到时，她会称赞我，并传达给我父亲。她的赞语激发了我练习和改进的渴望。在她的指导下，我成功考取得了三年级水平证书。这对当时的我是一个巨大的成就。
在我求学生涯中，我认识很多至少拥有八年级或高级证书的同学和朋友。但是，对我而言，达到三年级水平的钢琴演奏能力是一项成就，因为我在钢琴老师的推动下，努力实现了自己的目标。
对我来说，钢琴课代表着纪律与勤奋。这些年来，每当我遇到压力或挑战时，我都会回想起学习钢琴的经历。那经历锻炼了我的毅力，让我能够勇敢地面对各种困难，永不放弃。
我会让我的孩子上钢琴课吗？
我不确定。这取决于我将来的孩子的兴趣。如果我的孩子喜欢音乐，我肯定会给他们机会发展他们的兴趣。在我朋友圈里，我观察到有些朋友成年后，开始学习乐器（例如小提琴，四弦琴，吉他，西塔琴）。他们大多在儿时没有接触乐器的机会。我钦佩他们勇于学习的态度。
那些持之以恒的朋友，大多都是出于兴趣和个人发展而决定学习演奏乐器。成年后，我发现自己是自己最忠实的听众和啦啦队长。不像小时候， 我再也不这么在乎父母的看法，或与同学和表姐妹之间比较所营造的压力。我希望如果将来给孩子上钢琴课，不会带给孩子更多不必要的压力与无畏的竞争，有如艾米·蔡的书《老虎妈妈的战歌》中描述的那样。