The Performance

9 years ago
By Sarah McGillicuddy
Junior at Hodgdon High School

My piano teacher always says, “pianists can’t use words, like singers, to express the emotion in the song … we use our fingers instead.”

My fingers delicately hit the black and white keys. I have learned, with preforming, is I shouldn’t think. I don’t think about the next note, or the next rhythm. I clear my head of anybody watching me or any mistake I could possibly make.

Because if I think, I lose my ability to get lost in the music. The ability to play without fear. I let my fingers and my emotions play the song. As I play the song, my back gently sways with the rhythm.

When the song ends, I return to reality. I stand up, and hear the applause. Hearing the applause is my favorite element of performing.

The applause indicates that the audience is pleased with the gift I shared with them. It indicates that every second of the many hours of practice was worth it.