Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum That Long and Winding Road

I just recently (yesterday) returned to the piano after a two-month hiatus due to some health issues.

As I sat on the bench and browsed through some pieces that I hoped I would be able to play without too many errors, I thought about how we often say that it is the journey and not the destination that we should keep on sights on. And that this statement can be so wonderfully helpful when we become frustrated and angry and ready to give up.

Then from out of the blue, I started singing that Beetle song (interesting history, BTW)…“That Long and Winding Road.” It kept going through my head all day and even this morning and for some strange reason, I thought it so appropriate for those of us who are having doubts or are becoming disenchanted with our abilities at the piano.

It is, indeed, a very long and winding road for all of us and will always be. The “long” part is difficult enough, but the “winding” part is what gives us the most trouble.

BUT it is only a road, and one that we CAN travel if we are willing to keep putting one foot in front of the other, however slowly that may be.

Just a philosophical thought I thought I’d share.

Kathleen

Oh, just great, Kathleen. Now I have "The Long and Winding Road" and REM's "Losing My Religon" floating in my brain.

gmm1: Your brain's big, so not to worry.

Kathleen

Kathleen,
I'm glad you're feeling well enough to get back to the piano! that is wonderful. I have myself been going though a phase of frustration and feeling that I am just going in circles-- so it's nice to think of this as just a windier stretch of the road instead and maybe it really is leading somewhere! Let's try to enjoy the journey, as you say, wherever it leads.

best wishes,
Sophia

Kathleen,
Coincidentally, the acoustic version of "The Long and Winding Road" (on the album "Let it Be, Naked") has a quite lovely piano accompaniment, not heard so well on the originally-released version with producer Phil Spector's Wall of Sound. Although I love both versions, it's the acoustic version I turn to in order to hear the piano better.

Why not learn to play this piece as you make your return to piano? I have the sheet music from a sheet music catalog of Beatles' songs called "The Beatles Best"- It is not difficult at all, especially considering you've been playing Chopin! I just played through it now, and it is really quite pretty. You would learn it very quickly.

Thank you for your kind words, Sophia. Even if you think you are moving in circles...you are still MOVING, which is still a good sign.

Chardonnary: What a wonderful idea - learning to play this great Beatle piece. It could be my theme song! I am definitely going to hunt down that book.


to you both,
Kathleen

It's so nice to hear you are finally able to return to keys which were dying to be touched for so long! I am very, very, no - VERY - happy to see this thread, that you are returning, after I have read so many valuable posts with your signature, which shared so much passion towards piano and music itself

Learning Beatle Stuff may be a great starting point for a great come back It is a delightful piece indeed! I started humming it to

M.

Just for you, Mati...



Kathleen

Welcome Back Kathleen. I missed you.

From,
Your Piano

Hi Kathleen,

Excellent to see you back. I was only wondering yesterday how you were and thinking that it was an age since I'd seen a post here from you.

I remember a while back that you mentioned something about 'hitting a wall' or similar, so I had rather feared that you might have gone seeking other musical pastures. Glad that you are back.

Cheers,

Chris

PS This was a post that I put up way back then, when I (perhaps wrongly) thought that you were feeling a bit disengaged with piano.

When You Hit the Wall

Glad I was wrong.

Hi Kathleen, I'm glad to see that you're back at the bench and the health problems have been improved.

Kathleen,

That's great that you're playing again.

A couple of the loveliest recordings I've heard here at the ABF were played by you; that wonderful e minor Prelude and an Op. Posth. Waltz.

One of the things that I've noticed is that I can get tremendous joy from playing the piano, even with missed notes, and even with major screw-ups.

There's just a sense of connecting with something very deep and eternal when I touch the piano.

I know you feel the same way.


Mel

My eyes tear over as I read the last few posts from you all. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and encouragement. You can never know how much they mean to me.

My deepest gratitude,
Kathleen