Music Is My Passion Azja Lisette Alvarenga

There was a gleam and bright blue spark in my teacher’s eyes as she taught piano. The young student looked at her in excited amazement, a smile spreading across her face, like the smile of a mother seeing her newborn baby for the first time. This was my first glimpse of a piano lesson that was not my own, and watching it awakened a desire to teach other children music.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved music. I always had the urge to learn piano but never had the opportunity until my current teacher, Erin, offered me free lessons: my low-income family never had enough money to pay for these lessons before Erin entered my life. I remember watching televised concert hall performances, musicians who poured their entire beings into their instruments, and wishing I could be like them. When Erin finally gave me the incredible opportunity to start taking piano lessons with her a few years ago, my life changed.

In addition to offering me piano lessons, Erin allowed me to serve as a music practice coach for her younger students once a week. It was amusing to see the students play, to earnestly turn their faults into successes, and I was privileged to have the chance to guide them through the world of music and help them...