Scholarship Essays for College Admissions

“C-C-G-G-A-A-G-F-F-E-E-D-D-C”

The classic ABC’s song, played by the notes above, is not only the source of the alphabet but also the foundation of my passion for piano. I have been taking piano for over eight years and have been able to extend my piano literature from the simple ABC’s to the elaborate and grand Fur Elise. One could even say that piano is my forte. After years of determination, I have learned that the key to channeling all my emotions and thoughts into something remarkable is the magic that I can feel while whisking my fingers lightly upon those ivory keys.

It took me long years to distinguish between clamor and music. Every night I would leave the piano with books on the ground and a look of absolute frustration. Finally, after I spent hours glaring at those keys that seemed to dislike me so much, I hit the right note, and everything came together. The stem-like ovals spoke words to me. I began to feel a sudden urge to learn everything there was to know about the sensation taking place underneath my fingertips. I wanted people to not only see or feel my happiness but also to hear it. My fingers trembled but continued to read the notes like Braille on the piano. I skipped through the staccatos and jumped through the chords. From that point on, I have seen and felt music in everything I do. From the tap-tap-tap of heels on steps to the sounds of thunder, I am inspired to rip past thirty-second notes and chords igniting like wildfire.

With life rushing past with no time left to stop, piano has become a key point in my world. My mind’s contents are poured out as I become absorbed into the music. For light and happy, I stick with Chopin, while Beethoven is best for anger and vigor. I tell my story through the black and white keys - the portal to my mind like an unknown abyss. Sometimes I get goose-bumps and edgy, biting my lips and sitting on the edge of my seat, while slamming on the keys for The Storm. Or I close my eyes and graze the keys for The Raindrop. I even sing and dance to contemporary artists such as Coldplay and Pete Yorn. My fingers become my feet for dancing, my eyes for reading, and my heart for singing.

Piano has taught me more than just mastery of an instrumental skill: it has taught me to achieve a harmonious state of mind while becoming a virtuoso. For recitals and competitions, I practice vigorously, sometimes having flat days while others are sharp. There are many days where I go through imitation and repetition in a sequence of patterns. Then there are those days where the music comes to me. I become an original; I become an artist. I can make you waltz, cadence, or jazz. I feel like I’m on the right page, and I’ve finally hit the pivot chord. My “writer’s block” diminishes, and augmented inside of me is a renewed sense of melody. The letters of the piano are A-B-C-D-E-F-G. These are notes that started my passion.