Dear 4-year-old Michelle, I know you hate playing the keyboard, but in just a few years you’ll be playing an actual piano, which will be great. Also, music is fun. It may make you angry, but you’re doing great. Trust me.
Dear 6-year-old Michelle, congratulations! Your parents bought a brand new Yamaha piano just for you. Pianos are very special musical instruments so you are very lucky. You may not think music is fun just yet, but you will eventually. Trust me.
Dear 8-year-old Michelle, you have every right to think music is frustrating and boring because you have to sit still for thirty minutes while getting all the notes wrong and being criticized by your mother. I agree that it’s frustrating, and Mom should take a step back and let you explore your own interests, but please don’t quit playing the piano. It is worth everything. Trust me.
Dear 10-year-old Michelle, you shouldn’t have quit playing the piano. I know it was rage-inducing, but you just lost several years of experience and learning that you won’t get back. Feel free to explore your creativity and other interests like writing, art, and animals, though. Music will always be there for you when you’re ready to come back to it. Trust me.
Dear 12-year-old Michelle, congratulations on taking up the piano again! I know you only played around with it at first because you were bored, but I’m glad you decided that you actually liked playing it. And congratulations on discovering how beautiful Fryderyk Chopin’s music is. Pretty soon you’ll be able to play the real stuff. Trust me.
Dear 14-year-old Michelle, you just took two years of junior high choir and discovered that you like to sing, which is great. But why did you give up music a few months after entering 9th grade? I know high school is stressful and a lot of work, but you shouldn’t have given up music, damn what your parents say about arts not being a viable career option. Buckle up, because you’re in for a rough couple of years. But eventually you’ll slowly rediscover music, and music will help you heal. Trust me.
Dear 16-year-old Michelle, depression hurts. I know, but you are strong and you can deal with it, maybe slowly and lamely but still. Your parents will realize how important personal happiness is over grades and stuff, and you’ll get back into choir, which may not cure everything but at least it’ll help. Singing is fun. Theatre is fun. Music is fun, and you should take up the piano again. Trust me.
Dear 18-year-old Michelle, for the love of all things good, you just made the wrong choice for yourself in choosing to become a veterinarian. But that’s okay, we all grow and learn from the wrong choices we make, and hey, animals are still cool. I wish you hadn’t set aside music for your other interests, because music is something that speaks to you, but you’ll eventually figure this out and continue to cope with your depression. Trust me.
Dear 20-year-old Michelle, life is still hard, but that’s okay because you’re fighting every day and taking things at the pace that works for you. You haven’t rediscovered music yet, but you will soon. Trust me.
Dear 21-year-old Michelle, you know that Great Composers online college class that you really weren’t sure about but your mom said you should take anyways? Yeah, it’s going to be life-changing, because after it will get you to make music a big part of your life again. In about a year you’ll start composing a bit, but for now you’ll rediscover Fryderyk Chopin and fall in love with classical music all over again especially. Trust me.
Originally posted April 13, 2019 on WordPress
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