We are delighted and grateful to have Audrey as our longest-standing piano student. We interviewed her on her final lessons with us as she has graduated from high school and attending college out-of-state. She was one of the very first students when we started our Austin, Texas home-based music school in 2010, and her commitment and progress have brought us immense joy. Audrey’s musical journey is a source of inspiration, showcasing the transformative power of dedication and hard work. We hope her story motivates others to embrace their own musical aspirations and embark on their own unique path of musical growth and fulfillment.
Why did you start playing the piano or taking piano lessons?
I was really interested in music [and playing the piano] when I was little I think. A lot of it was [steamed from] seeing live performances. I mean, we would go to church when we were little and I would see people play on stage and I would follow the beats to the song and the rhythm. I’ve listened to songs on the radio and I was traveling with my mom and I specifically remember hearing a lot of like the piano solos and Adele songs and thinking like oh I want to play that.
I don’t know I guess whenever I was just alone I just kind of pretended I was playing the piano. I think my mom just kind of noticed it. She’s the one that kind of pushed me to start taking the lessons because I couldn’t really say, “You know I want to go and take lessons with somebody” because I didn’t really know where to start. I would say it was kind of a little bit of my idea, but it was a lot of my mom pushing me and encouraging me to do that.
You have an older brother. Did he play any instruments?
My older brother played no instruments. Actually… I’m trying to think. When I was younger he didn’t really play anything.
Explain some of the emotions you felt during your first year of music lessons?
I remember I was really nervous, at first, and I was really scared to go into my first piano lesson. I think I was in the car outside of JP’s house and I was just freaking out telling my mom I didn’t want to go inside, but after a while I really got more comfortable with it because whenever JP would teach me [there] would be a lot of fun activities. It wouldn’t really be [a lot of] sitting down [with him] saying you have to do this and this. It was really interactive. I remember I would take group lessons too when I was younger and so I would always have someone with me there too and that made it a lot more easier for my first year learning.
How important was it to experience success early-on in your piano playing?
Early on I wasn’t really thinking about the success when I was playing. I think it was more just me trying to enjoy it. I kind of noticed that I was becoming successful whenever I would tell my friends that I would I could play the piano they would listen to me at school and they were kind of like telling me how good I was. It didn’t really hit me until other people started noticing how well I was playing and that kind of, of course, that boosted my confidence that made me think like you know maybe I am actually pretty good at this and so I started playing a lot more. I was I was already pretty good.
Over the years, did you ever have the feelings that you wanted to quit or “take a break.”
I don’t think I ever flat out kind of told myself that I wanted to quit. I don’t think I ever really wanted to take an extended break from piano. But, a lot of the times when I was growing up and getting older, I felt like sometimes I wasn’t practicing enough or I wasn’t trying my hardest because I had so much more going on [in] my personal life and at school.
At times, I would feel stressed out with recitals. Recitals would be right around the corner and I would be trying to work really hard and get a little stressed out. I think what helped combat that was just reminding myself why I started playing in the first place and sitting down [to play] and just enjoying myself playing.
[At recitals] I remember
listening to my piece [being played by other people] and I would think about how I would play [it] and the way I played it was different from [them]. That kind of excited me to kind to perform for other people because I started thinking about how I had to turn this piece into my own after rehearsing it for so long.
Was it hard to balance school work and piano practice?
When I started having to prepare for more exams in high school and other extracurricular activities I did kind of notice that it was harder to practice and it was harder to stay consistent with rehearsing on my own. I wouldn’t say that it was really like taking a toll [on me]. I remember I would I would make time to play, but it was more like a relaxing kind of thing. It was like more of a stress reliever. It wasn’t really adding on to anything in a negative way.
When did you realize that playing the piano was going to be an important part of your life?
Well, I remember during the Summers, I think it was like one or two summers, I went to help JP with the music camp and I remember when we were teaching the [younger] kids how to play a song on the on the piano for a performance that we’re going to be doing at the towards the end of the [summer] camp. I remember when the kids would see me play or like when I would help them they would always tell me, “oh you’re so good, you’re so good, we want to be like like you.” That just kind of told me, you know, I shouldn’t stop playing because I feel like I’m passing this on to other people and sharing my music with others and that kind of is just like a really like a pivotal moment because I was just thinking I don’t ever want to stop playing.
What accomplishments as a pianist are you most proud of so far?
I would say I’m really proud of just all of the pieces I’ve learned, how they’ve progressively gotten a bit more difficult each time, and the recitals that I’ve completed because I have to like get up there and be really nervous and just get over those nerves and play in front of a bunch of people. [Being] vulnerable with the piece that I’ve been working on for a long time. That’s always just really [an] accomplishing [feeling] coming down from the stage and hearing all the applause.
I would also say, I participated in the University Inter-scholastic League at my high school and I had to learn a piece to play in front of some judges and I got a really good score. I got score of a one [gold medal], which was like the best that I could have gotten and that was just like an accomplishing moment for me because it’s always nice to hear that other people think that you’re good.
What advice do you have for parents signing up their kids for lessons with JP right now?
Some advice that I have for parents is to definitely encourage your child to keep trying no matter how scary it might be or how frustrated they might get because I think that it could lead to [a] kind of just positive outlet for them to have something else to be doing and keep themselves busy. Also, have a passion of their own that they can hold on to for the rest of their lives because I know that it’s something for me that I’m gonna have for a lifetime.
What does the future hold for Audrey as a pianist?
I don’t think that I would ever or could ever see myself not
playing the piano ever again. I think that I’ve worked so hard to [get to] this point. I’ve learned so much from JP and I’ve learned so much about myself as a musician that I don’t think it’s something I just necessarily want to throw away or just give up on. I think, as a pianist, I want to remain practicing as much as I can. I’m playing not just for the purpose of being able to play the piano and telling people that I have the skill, but just for myself because it’s always been such a stress relief reliever and it’s just my creative outlet. The way that I express myself. Even if it’s just for myself it’s kind of what makes me happy and I want to continue doing that no matter where I am.
Is there anything else you want to say?
Discover the Joy of Music
Participating in activities, such as piano lessons, brings numerous benefits, including the opportunity to learn new skills. If you’re considering enrolling your child in private or group lessons, we would be thrilled to speak with you. Our goal is to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for musical growth. We offer free consultations, allowing you or your child to meet with us and get a feel for our teaching approach before committing to a session. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today and take the first step towards a musical journey of discovery and enjoyment!
Participating in activities, such as piano lessons, brings numerous benefits, including the opportunity to learn new skills. If you’re considering enrolling your child in private or group lessons, we would be thrilled to speak with you. Our goal is to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for musical growth. We offer free consultations, allowing you or your child to meet with us and get a feel for our teaching approach before committing to a session. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today and take the first step towards a musical journey of discovery and enjoyment!
