In our elementary music classes we study a composer each month.
It’s super cool actually.
It’s neat knowing that we are often these students’ very first introduction to some of the world’s greatest composers.
This month we are studying Beethoven.
On top of that, we learn about a musical word each week.
This week it’s “sonata”.
No, not Hyundai. LOL!
So, being that Mr. Beethoven composed 32 piano sonatas, of course we are listening to some of his piano music.
More specifically, his most famous and familiar: The “Moonlight” Sonata.
I like to play this recording of the 3rd movement:
I actually had my students in my advanced high school piano class learn this piece for their recital 2 years ago. They weren’t quite at the ability level to tackle the 3rd movement so I decided to take it on myself.
It was a nice challenge and I actually enjoyed preparing for it.
But I played it waaaaaaay slower than that amazing pianist did.
Well, maybe not waaaaaay slower. But a few metronome markings lower.
I actually have a recording of myself playing it and tell my students after the fact that it’s me.
They get a kick out of it.
Then I play them a “presto” version of it.
And I find myself telling them what I always tell my piano students: never play anything so fast that you can no longer play the notes correctly.
Not faster than beautiful.
Not so fast that you no longer honor what the composer has written.
And it kind of reminds me of life.
Like trying too hard.
Or rushing through things.
It gets sloppy.
You have to meet yourself where you are.
If you jump ahead to where you want to be, that often doesn’t get you there. Because you didn’t take the necessary steps to get there.
So meet yourself where you are.
Accept where you are.
Because only from there can you get to where you want to be.
A TBT to a past performance (which reminds me of how much I love playing and collaborating with others):
Today’s shoulder workout:
Meet yourself where you are.
Don’t rush through things.
Do what makes you happy.