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After going through a childhood and young adulthood of being constantly judged for my music, it was no wonder I retreated inside myself and hid for several years after I completed my university degree in music. The echoes in my first year at university of “We thought you had potential, but we were wrong!” haunted me for many years, but that was on another instrument. My strongest instrument went hidden for years, despite obtaining my grade 8 at age 17.
Looking back at my musical education, although I’ll always be grateful for having the opportunity to pursue music, was only ever subjective. They train you to be the perfect virtuoso musician, no matter how much physical, emotional and mental pressure you’re put under. When you don’t fit their criteria, you’re made to feel not good enough and invisible. That’s exactly where I was after I finished my education.
I feel it’s important to share this part of my story, because I strongly believe that music shouldn’t be reserved for only the higher parts of society. It’s not just for the “perfect” ones, it’s for everyone, and that point needs to be emphasised in early childhood, and then followed through until the child becomes an adult.
It took me until lockdown, despite having been a piano tutor since early 2016 to find an ounce of confidence just to play in front of an audience. I started online, and built my confidence up, until in 2023 I started playing for audiences confidently in public. The key to this was finding the audience that cheered me on. The feedback I started to receive was so positive I just had to keep going. On none of those occasions was I perfect, but the feedback drowned out the imperfections, so I kept going.
The impact it’s had on my students is amazing too – I started inviting them to perform at my in person concerts which began at Christmas 2023. I think it’s important to give my students the opportunity to play in front of a supportive audience. As a child I always hated it, but that opportunity was fairly rare too, so I strive to make it a twice yearly event for myself and my students.
As I’ve grown in confidence as a piano tutor, I’ve grown a reputation for being fun and not strict, but also encouraging and adaptable. This year it’s been highlighted that I’m also ADHD friendly. As a mother of a neurodivergent child myself, I feel it’s important to give everyone a fair chance, because my mission is to make music reachable for all!
And me? I am the Tropic Pianist Gamer, multi passionate creative, author and podcaster. I will never be a concert pianist, nor do I wish to be one, but I am an entertainer, bringing music to young and old through inspiring piano lessons, or informal concert settings that all can enjoy!
If you’re interested in taking piano lessons with me, I teach online or in person (local to Menai Bridge) check out this page for details: https://tropicpianistgamer.co.uk/contact/
If you’re interested in my performances then I’ll be playing live at a wellbeing fair on Sunday October 13th – I’ll be taking requests on the day too! We’re supporting Ty Gobaith, with tarot cards, reiki, Indian head massage, Tropic, and many other wellbeing inspired things! (free entry)
And for the community concert, I’m hoping a handful of my students will be performing. We’ll be supporting Tenovus for that one with a mini Christmas fair on the side too!
Saturday 7th December, Llandegfan Parish Hall (Tickets are £5 if bought directly)
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Website owner Lisa Williams - Also known as the Vision Board Queen is on a mission to help other people's messages, visions and events be seen.
Thank you Jen who wrote this blog to get her vision of sharing music online and offline.
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