Personal Narrative-Defining Moment

I scan through the score; my eyes rapidly swing back and forth like a metronome. With precision, I place my warm fingers on the cold black and white keys and, in an instance, I’m enraptured only with what is in front of me to begin Honeysuckle Rose by Louis Armstrong. As soon as I strike the keys, the balance of melody and base ring through the air in a symphony of sound. In my head, the cramped, but lively speakeasy erupts in an indulgence of dance. Sweat drips down the back of my neck, while my imaginary audience does the Charleston left and right. Ting! My eyes bolt shut as the last note resonates, stirring in my ears as a slight grin slips through my concentration. I relax my fingers and open my eyes. Instead of a musty bar, I’m in my living room and even though the piece is over the magic is still in the air. I love playing the piano. …show more content…
I practiced every day and had a lesson every week. I woke up early and practiced until my hands cramped. Whilst keeping up my repertoire, I also learned new material and studied musical theory. I concentrated on building my skills and technique, however everything I played failed to enraptured my need for self-expression. Scanning the internet, looking for something to spark a flame of inspiration, I wound up listening to Jeepers creepers by Louis Armstrong. The calm but energizing flow of music opened my eyes and allowed me to discover a brand new world. It was my first taste of jazz. The very next piano lesson I attended I rambled to my teacher about jazz and how I wanted to play soul music. Being able to improvise and create new, never before heard sounds was mind-boggling. I finally was able to express all of me. Ever since then, I became a jazz