Brava!

 

                                                 

Brava!  I say to myself, Brava! 

On June 12, 2024, I played two pieces in a music recital. 

I played two piano pieces in a recital. 

It might not seem like it to my dear readers, but this is a Big Deal to me. 

I'm not a" natural performer" as I've overcame chronic childhood shyness and still prefer to be working in the background rather than in front of people.  

 While I've come a long way from the weird, awkward, socially inept teen that many remember, I'm still very introverted and prefer small groups or one-on-one interactions to large crowds. 

Up until that afternoon, the only two people who had heard me play the piano were my spouse and my teacher. 

 I was born with some neurological challenges that make eye-hand coordination and using both the right and left sides of my body in tandem very difficult. It was because of these challenges that I never took any music lessons as a child. 

 When I was growing up in the 80's and early 90's, the understanding of different neurodiversity and how the brain works was still very much a new field. It was so new that I did not get the partial diagnosis of PDD: NOS. This acronym Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified-- basically saying that medical people have no damn clue why my brain works differently from " normies" {Fans of the show _Wednesday_ will understand that reference} 

I'd always wanted to learn to play the piano, but never got that opportunity until my late 40's when I met my teacher. We started slowly, as I'd never read music {no need to, as I'd been told that playing any musical instrument was not happening for me} and my teacher is patient, taking the time that my neurodiverse brain and corresponding body needs. 

As an adult learner, and one with some neurological challenges, having a teacher who understands neurodiverse brains has been the key to my piano success. Her teaching methods and patience with my more rigid adult brain, enable me to enjoy the learning process and find joy and healing in my hobby.  I feel safe enough to work diligently on each week's assignments, but also know that I will not disappoint as long as I practice. 

Learning to play the piano as an adult is satisfying because I want to be there.  Practice time each day, and weekly lesson time, are some of the regularly scheduled things that add so much joy to my life. The healing benefits of a neurodiverse person learning to play the piano have been proven by science. 

https://colourfulkeys.ie/neurodivergent-piano-students/

https://www.brainline.org/article/how-music-helps-heal-injured-brain

Playing the piano boosts brain processing power and helps lift the blues | ScienceDaily

This article is a wee bit boring, so here is a quote that illustrates my point well :

 Cognitive psychologist and music specialist Dr Karin Petrini from the University of Bath's Department of Psychology, explained: "We know that playing and listening to music often brings joy to our lives, but with this study we were interested in learning more about the direct effects a short period of music learning can have on our cognitive abilities.

"Learning to play an instrument like the piano is a complex task: it requires a musician to read a score, generate movements and monitor the auditory and tactile feedback to adjust their further actions. In scientific terms, the process couples visual with auditory cues and results in a multisensory training for individuals."

Yes! 

In the year and a half that I've been taking lessons:

1. My hand-eye coordination has improved. I still drop things, but not as often. 

2. My balance has improved. I can safely stand on one foot for longer than two or three seconds without wobbling. 

3. I can use BOTH hands in tandem. 

All this is happening when I engage in a hobby that brings me joy and peace. 

I'm damn proud of myself, and grateful to all the people who make this happen for me. 

I'll never be a virtuoso.. and I am not sure I'd even want to be one. Yet I can love playing , and reap the benefits of piano study as occupational therapy for my weird little brain. 

Amen. 

Sarahbeth McCarren 

June 12 2024