My STEP signature project was a creative and artistic endeavor where I took piano lessons with a local teacher in Columbus. For six months, I was able to take weekly piano lessons that focused on learning music theory, composition, and piano skills. I began taking piano lessons as a complete beginner in the summer of 2019. Without any previous experience with music or an instrument, it seemed like a daunting task to tackle. I was told many times how hard learning an instrument as an adult beginner could be, and I was skeptical if I had the ability and patience to learn. But I finally decided to take the leap, purchase a piano, and begin lessons.

During my STEP project this summer and fall, I saw my abilities progress beyond where I ever thought I could be. I’ve learned challenging pieces, begun composing original works, and developed a deeper understanding of theory. Through taking piano lessons, I’ve learned the importance of perseverance. I faced many challenges over the past year on my journey of learning piano. To start, the COVID-19 pandemic made things more difficult as my piano teacher was forced to move our weekly lessons online. This was difficult for me because I found a lot more value from in-person lessons, but I didn’t let this deter me from practicing and improving. In the fall, I also suffered from a broken finger that took me out of commission from playing piano for several months. It was really frustrating to want to play the piano, but I was unable to properly. I still attempted to play one handed, and I tried to focus on things I could still do.

I have also learned how important practice and hard-work are to learning an instrument. Some of my friends make playing the piano look very easy, but what I didn’t see were the years it took to reach that proficient level of playing. I realize now how much practice it can take to accomplish playing just a single song on the piano. It takes a lot of dedication but it is worth it once I am finally able to finish a song.

One of the challenges I accomplished during my STEP project was performing a three movement sonatina written by Clementi. My teacher first assigned this piece to me and it seemed so difficult at the beginning. It was very frustrating to feel like I would never finish the piece and be able to play it fluently. But I was eventually able to after several months of practice. My piano recital was canceled due to the pandemic, however I still wanted to show my family and friends what I had accomplished. I performed a few songs virtually for them. It was rewarding to share my new love of music and piano with them.

Another part of my STEP project that I felt was transformational was my new interest in composing music for the piano. My teacher also gives lessons in how to write and compose pieces. I was able to use music notation software to prepare a melody, and then Ben and I worked together on the accompaniment for the melody to make it come together and sound better. I am still working on this skill but I have been able to put together a few short pieces that I can also play on the piano myself.

This opportunity to take piano lessons has been very important to my future goals of improving my piano playing abilities. I would like to one day be able to sight read and play even more difficult music. I’ve also gained a much bigger appreciation for classical music of all eras. I’ve had the chance to work on pieces from the baroque period to contemporary music, and each song is beautiful in its own way. I will also use the valuable life lessons that I’ve experienced by taking these lessons, such as the importance of discipline, time management, and perseverance.

My STEP signature project was a creative endeavor focused on me finding time to persue something that offered me a chance to rest from the business of school. In this, I decided to further my knowledge of the guitar and take lessons. These lessons offered me a time to relax and focus on something besides homework. It also gave me a way to relax by doing something creative.

While completing my project I began to understand how much music can provide therapy to people. I noticed week after week as I took lessons that I looked forward to the hour I got to sit down and spend time focusing on something artistic.

Even outside of the studio, being home and practicing what I was learning granted me a lot of peace and relaxation in such a busy college career. I had always heard that music can be therapeutic, but I never understood how. Now I do! Practicing focuses your mind on something so much it drowns everything else out. Therefore, when it was just me and the guitar, everything else faded away and it was very peaceful.

My guitar teachers were very helpful when it came to this therapy. They were very understanding and patient with me, and always encouraged me to just enjoy myself (even if I wasn’t too good in the beginning!). They also showed me ways to practice what I was learning in unique and fun ways. Most importantly, every time I would go to a lesson they emphasized to learn the instrument just as a way to quiet my mind, not learn it to create the most beautiful and correct music. They encouraged me not to strive to be good, but strive to just let the time spent on the guitar block everything else out.

This was a key idea for me. I realized there was no way I was going to be playing beautiful music by the end of this. Instead of stressing and being intensely focused on playing music correctly and sticking to an intense regime to learn thoroughly, I used this activity as a way to just quiet my mind. Even if im not the best, if I focused all my attention on just practicing what I could, I don’t worry about anything else. It really helped me to be able to control my stress and anxiety.

By the end of it, I could play countless songs I loved, read music, and just had a more general interest in music. Even when learning, I learned new ways to memorize chords and move my fingers to strum. It was an interesting thing to learn how to use my hands in such a way I never had before!

This project has been really impactful for what I stated above. I have always struggled with a mind that never stops, and picking up the guitar showed me a productive way to calm and slow my mind. Instead of a racing mind, I traded in racing fingers over strings. It is a new way I learn to cope with the stress of my life and I still see that I reach for my guitar when I need a break from my own head.

Throughout 2020, I began learning how to play the guitar with no prior music experience. I purchased my own guitar and took lessons through a local company called Musicologie.

I began my project in January of 2020. I was eager to begin learning a new skill, and I hoped to become fluent in music. Looking back, my assumptions about my project definitely changed throughout the process. Before I began taking lessons, I knew that the guitar would require patience and discipline. However, I was not aware of how much discipline it would require. Playing guitar has a much bigger learning curve than I had previously anticipated. I saw my patience and discipline transform throughout this process. Additionally, I noticed that my confidence increased throughout my project. I am grateful for the experience and glad that I began forming foundational understandings of music.

I attended lessons roughly every week. In the beginning, I began learning songs and chords with my first instructor. I liked my instructor, but I did not feel that he was the right fit for me. My second instructor was not through Musicologie, but he helped me start understanding the basics of music theory. I found this extremely helpful. Unfortunately, our schedules conflicted, so I returned to Musicologie. My third instructor was fantastic. He helped me with the basics and my motivation. I was grateful to make new connections during the pandemic when socialization was relatively limited.

Throughout my project, I struggled with motivation as the pandemic had really drained my energy. Learning guitar provided structure in my week, and it pushed me to practice and grow. It helped to have instructors that kept me accountable. I also found the guitar to be a good outlet for stress.

Not only was guitar a good outlet for stress, but it also helped me develop a newfound confidence in myself. I am nowhere near perfect at playing the guitar, but I felt encouraged that I was developing a skill and hobby. I began watching videos and researching guitar on the internet because I was genuinely interested in getting better.

Overall, this experience was beneficial in making me a well-rounded individual. I am not finished learning the guitar because learning guitar is a lifelong process. As I mentioned previously, playing guitar is a great outlet for stress. As someone who is about to graduate and enter graduate school, managing stress is essential to my functioning. I am excited to continue my adventure with music.