Piano Anonymous

Music can be best described as a skeleton key, opening the locks in your mind. Whether it's changing a mood, de-stressing, or adding excitement, music transcends generations and cultures. Throughout my existence, music has been a constant reminder of all the beauty life has to offer. As a small girl, I loved banging on the piano. It brought such joy, but eventually childhood antics turned to disciplined practices and now I make my own music on the black and white keys, adding my own beauty to the world.

My first experience with the piano came when I was too young to know a C note from an E major chord. Regardless, as I began to pound on the keys and produce a cacophony of jumbled notes, I felt proud. By the age of six, I memorized both Chopsticks and Heart and Soul. Immediately, I realized I was making "real music!" A flame suddenly sparked within me, spurring an addiction to music that continues today and I suspect, for a lifetime.

We had a piano in our home: an antique looking thing with nicked wood and yellowing keys. Even with my rudimentary knowledge of what a note is supposed to sound like, I knew the piano was out of tune. Regardless, I worshipped that relic. Throughout all the sports and the clubs and whatever else I...