Balancing

Memorizing forty digits of pi? No problem. I’ve already memorized Toccata by Khachaturian when I was eleven and Concerto No. 1 by Bach last year.

Choreographing counts of eight for my gymnastics floor routine? I already know how to count beats of music and subdivide beats to order to incorporate dance moves easier.

Competing a Yurchenko vault that may take me three years of working on it every summer? Sure, I have already memorized four Chopin songs on the piano even though it took nearly a year for each.

Hearing other students complain about having too much homework? I just smile and think of how I am balancing homework, piano and violin practice, twenty hours of gymnastics workouts a week, and six hours of coaching at the gym. Suzuki music has definitely taught me the wondrous results of consistent practice.

I have also become more comfortable performing in front of people. Playing the piano six different years at the Iowa State Fair has put me in front of about ten thousand people! One year I even performed on Iowa Public Television because I qualified for the finals in the Bill Riley Talent Search.

Because I have played at different fairs and nursing homes, I have learned how to play the piano even when it is very out of tune or in bad shape. At one fair, I had to perform on a keyboard that did not have all the keys I needed to play the song. At another, some of the black keys were missing. This has taught me to adjust and persevere even when conditions are unfavorable.

Participating in orchestra has taught me how to work with others towards a common goal.

Finally, taking Suzuki music lessons has allowed me to bring joy to many people over the years, sharing the gift of music at nursing homes, church, and other performances.