Playing the piano,

 

This post was pretty inspired by “Secret Heaven” which we watched two weeks ago. The younger girl struck me as really, really innocent and I was upset as I watched how she was mistreated(or at least to me) over the piano.

Cute, no? There are times when I ponder over this. Do we destroy innocence, or is innocence lost as one grows up? 

 

 

I’m more inclined to think it’s the former. In the Secret Heaven, the girl is forced to learn and practice the piano even though she openly displays her hatred for it.

 

A thousand possible reasons ran across my head as to why her mother might be so insistent on her learning the piano. There’s the prestige that comes with learning the piano. Scientific research seems to suggest that children who play the piano tend to be more academically inclined. 

 

Gosh. When was the last time kids did stuff just because they liked it? The great Beethoven composed his last classics while on the verge of losing his hearing. The legendary Mozart “cut” the skin between his fingers so he could play the piano better. I believe such acts are actually driven on by passion. Whatever would they say if they knew that music was being learnt for other more superficial reasons?

I believe that today, children are forced to “leave” childhood early. At the age of 7, they all join in primary schools to take part in the academic rat race. For some of them, they were given extra help years before to help ensure they had an edge when the race starts. 

 

Seriously. I think a lot of parents gotta rethink over forcing or encourage their children doing stuff only if it is somehow benefical. Basketball is a game with a hell lot of passion and friendship, but parents would probably prefer their kids to learn the piano which is so much more pragmatic and prestigious. Who wants their child to get all stinky when they can elude so much class by playing the piano? 

 

 

Playing the piano should be a beautiful thing enjoyed by its players. What’s the point if one is forced to master the piano? He will never find love for it. 

Parents out there, think twice before getting your kids to do stuff which you feel is more beneficial to his academics and what not. A child’s innocence is one of the most precious and beautiful things on Earth and definitely worth holding on to.