Amy Lu's View

I didn’t expect that my blog would tilt so heavily toward being an “Amy Plays Piano” blog, but write what you know, right? 

My blog posts about playing piano/keys are not actually about that, at least not in the sense that one would learn anything about playing piano or get some helpful tips. My posts mostly explore the following ideas:

• “Why did I choose this song to play? Is there a sentimental reason?”
• “Wow, the lyrics to this song are much weirder than I ever guessed!”
• “How hard was this song or me to play? How nervous was I?”

I wasn’t necessarily planning on yet another piano blog post so soon after the last one, but then I heard on the Current Monday morning that it was National Piano Day (or maybe that’s International…definitely “outside of my house” Piano Day). So I was contractually obligated. (Yes, I have a contract with the blog deities). 

And my latest Zoom Church Coffeehouse performance was notable because I successfully played the solo, “Nocturne,” that I’ve been practicing and agonizing about for weeks (maybe even months). 

I’m not even sure when or why I decided to re-learn this song to play at coffeehouse. At some point I rediscovered the sheet music and since trying to play it wasn’t a total disaster, I kept at it. I don’t know exactly how “Nocturne” compares to the other piano solos I’ve recently done (there was no level to it!) but it certainly felt more complex and challenging. 

I don’t remember how old I was when I first played “Nocturne.” For the purposes of coffeehouse banter, Chad and I guessed twelve. I was probably a little older, but I really have no idea. I remember the sound of the song, but I don’t remember the circumstance of playing it. Recital? Competition? Hostage situation? I’m pretty sure I stopped taking piano lessons by the time I got to high school (my sister guesses I stopped when I was thirteen or fourteen). 

After I played the song, a kind friend in the audience asked me “Did you like that song when you were twelve?”  Once I figured out that she hadn’t asked me “Did you write that song when you were once?” (#MyHearingSucks) I didn’t know how to answer. 

What an interesting existential question. What did it mean when I was a kid to like a song that I played? Again, I don’t really remember much about  playing this particular song but I’m sure my fondness for any song was heavily influenced by how much I had to struggle to play it. As an adult, I do know that I like the song as a piece of music in itself and loved that I was able to play it. I even felt all artistic and musciany as I was EXPRESSING myself while playing with changes in volume and tempo and all that.

Later my same friend asked me what style of music I would describe “Nocturne” as. My first thought was “70’s” (and “Nocturne” was indeed first published in 1973) but I think whatever the sheet music equivalent of “Adult Contemporary” is the best fit for a genre.

I am heartened to learn that used copies of “Nocturne” are available via Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Nocturne-Piano-DAVID-GLOVER-PROGRAM/dp/B00ED4C56G). I love the description: “Evocative intermediate level piano solo by HELEN BOYKIN. Part of the esteemed DAVID CARR GLOVER PROGRAM SOLO SERIES.” Yes, evocative! That sounds sexy. And it’s an intermediate level, so I can definitely feel justified in feeling all snazzy about playing it. 

I do remember I liked playing songs out of my older sister’s piano books. One of my absolute favorites was Simon and Garfunkels Greatest Hits. But she also had some weird selections, too, like Michael Jackson’s “Ben.” I had no idea that was the theme song to a movie about a rat. No matter how odd, those songs I discovered solely through sheet music (many of them I had never even heard recordings of even though they were pop songs) will always hold a special place in my heart. 

But what really holds a special place in my heart is the support and encouragement I’ve received from our church coffeehouse community (yes, please marvel at that transition from a horror movie theme song to my wonderful church friends). Without church coffeehouse, I don’t think I would ever be playing as much piano as I am now or tackling “real” songs from my youth. As one of my friends who also regularly performs at coffeehouse said, (paraphrased), “They’re our church, they have to love us!” True, and definitely one of the benefits of being in a church is having a captive audience, but our community showers us with more support than mere obligation accounts for.

Our next church Zoom coffeehouse will mark our one-year anniversary of this weekly adventure in community, music, laughter, prose, art, silliness, experimentation, and just being together (if not physically together). 

I should definitely look into playing “Ben” for an upcoming coffeehouse!