Learning to play an instrument takes work. 

Often times when I get home I can’t help but think, “Why am I doing this, is it worth it?” Sitting on the bench, getting shooting pains up my back from being hunched over to read in the dim lights, I only want to slink into the other room and drift off to bed.

The only thing that keeps my eyes open and my mind in a working state is my piano teacher’s disappointed voice coming through my imagination into reality, “Keely, I thought you said you were going to practice this week, I know you can do better.” An excuse list a mile long runs through my head, but not wanting to sound like I’m whining or admit I have too much on my plate I always say with as much gumption as I can muster, “Your right. I should have practiced, I can do better. I will try harder.”

So after the lesson I walk tiredly back home on the old country road that should be repaved and think about my schedule that gets busier by the minute. “If I do this tomorrow…No that won’t work…Monday I could always…” but it isn’t long until my mind trails off and I turn into the driveway of my house.

After the homework is done, dinner is eaten, hair is washed, and my favorite show recorded, I sit down on the bench and fall back into the old routine – head drooping, fingers failing to cooperate, and back pains flaring, I delve deep into the bowls of my determination and come up with the ability to work.

Day after day I work and on Sunday, my day of judgment, I take my music over to her house, the house where I fail my teacher, and show her what’s new.

Only this week is different, I worked. I learned. I improved. Finally, I get praised and that’s what makes me want to do better, thus breaking the cycle and making piano worth it.