Le Piano

 

by Gerardo “Ged” Luis Valenzuela Flores
The Netherlands
July 21, 2020
 






My story begins during my late teenage days. The time I realized I have some ability to create my own music on both piano and guitar. It felt like a gift and it made me happy.

My piano background consists of various private tutors on classical piano at different levels, since the age of nine. I actually started playing the recorder (elementary school) and organ (private tutor) before I switched instruments and started taking piano classes. I was not an example of the perfect pupil. My piano technique did not advance progressively in a straight line partly because the quality of tutoring from various teachers available at that time did not meet my needs and expectations. Our mom actually tried to get us, my sister and I, into a good music school instead. Unfortunately, we lived in another town, so that ‘good’ music school didn’t want to enroll us as pupils because they would not get any local government subsidy due to our residence elsewhere.



Many relatives (abroad) from both sides of our family played piano, everyone of them at least had a few years of piano classes. My parents both play piano though different styles. My dad plays Broadway kind of music and easy listening movie theme songs. My mom played the classical type. So in our case, one could say it was part of family tradition. But as a kid it felt like an obligation. There were moments when my friends and other kids were playing outside and I was thinking: “What in God’s name am I doing here, at this moment, behind the piano?” Especially during my early age, the quality of the available private tutors in the area was thin on motivating pupils. My mom also realized this repeatedly, which resulted in replacing these tutors several times.



We had the occasional piano recitals in the living room when people came over to visit or during parties. I wasn’t really at my best during those recitals, mainly because I was quite irregular in practicing my homework/piano pieces as I was not really focused or motivated.  I did not feel inspired and neither did my tutors correct that. As a hyper kid (malikot na bata ) I had difficulty focusing. This was an issue because in order to develop good piano skills/technique, ‘focus’ is one of the ‘key’ elements for improvement.





I stopped taking piano classes at the age of fourteen. My sister, ‘retired‘ from piano classes way before I did. Our last piano teacher during that time was a kind, but quite older man who basically kept me on a low(er) piano grade/level for almost two years which allowed him to be able to sell his piano books from his shop. Besides that, he never asked me what kind of music I would like to play on the piano. So actually, there was no room for any suggestions from my side. Not really an inspiring environment for a young teenager with lots of positive energy looking for proper guidance.



Something I realized years later, was that my mom purposely used to play Chopin on the piano just to get us exposed to classical music. Both my parents love classical music. It is part of our upbringing. We heard music from different composers regularly. For example Beethoven symphonies, Tchaikovsky concerts, Verdi operas, Liszt piano recitals and of course the full scope of piano works by Frédéric François Chopin (Polish: Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin). Chopin was my mom’s all-time favorite. To be honest, her strategy worked well. Her ‘favorite’ became my favorite. I love Chopin’s piano works very much. My Chopin favorites are for instance: Ballade No.1 in G minor, Op. 23 , Fantaisie -Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op. 66 and Polonaise in A flat major Op. 53 . However, at the moment, most of his outstanding works of art are technically way above my level. So, I just enjoy his music by listening to it over and over again.



Getting back to my own creations of arts. In my late teens I re-discovered the piano. I enrolled again, taking one and a half years of piano classes with a private tutor who was also connected to a local music school. Meanwhile, I was slowly discovering that I am able to create melodies which literally pop into my mind once in a while. Unfortunately these are spur of the moment epiphanies. If I am not able to translate these melodies into notes on the piano immediately, these melodies could vanish again instantly. Due to this new teacher and my newly found intrinsic motivation, my piano skills advanced a lot more rapidly than before. In addition, as a ‘musician’ I was living in two different worlds. On the piano I was composing my contemporary easy listening piano pieces (with a touch of classical influence). As for guitar & vocals (both autodidact) I started writing pop/rock songs.



During my college & university days the creation of my own music moved to the background due to other priorities (e.g. obtaining (under)graduate degrees). After a few years however, this was revived when I started playing more guitar again. Eventually this led to my old pop/rock band (five man formation) including (low profile) band performances in local bars and events. The old passion of creating my own music was fully back into my life again. Piano playing blossomed as well. Besides the pop/rock songs I write until now, I also started composing other piano pieces. Titles of my own piano compositions are for example: Danse Royale , Soleil de l’Après-midi , Luna , Mémoires and Kaléidoscope .



My strength lies not in my technique. My strength lies in the simplicity of the melody created. I am aware of my strength when I play my own piano compositions, when I perform solo as singer-songwriter or when I practice with my old pop/rock band (which we revived recently again after many years).



I recognize there is still enough room for further development of my piano skills. But for now, the most important thing is to be able to share my piano music with others. That would be great if my own piano compositions will find enriched life in the enjoyment of others.

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Danse Royale (Gerardo Luis Valenzuela Flores)
youtu.be/Tt7lX4aD7hs

Soleil de L’Après-Midi (Gerardo Luis Valenzuela Flores)
youtu.be/QKwX8WVLT6k