Being only seventeen, my experience is of course limited, but I feel blessed to have found music. I started learning the piano when I was only 6-7 years of age. I didn’t really like it that much,since my parents sort of “forced” this upon me, something I know many people can relate with. (Then again, can a 6 yr. old judge what’s good for him? ) After 4 years of playing music I didnt really like, like some John Thompson course books and learning only beginner music coursebooks, I had a natural disinclination towards music. But when I switched teacher, this all changed. With a new teacher, I told him that I wanted to start learning a song. I wasn’t sure what he would put me to learn, but to my good fortune, it was FurElise by Beethoven. This was my first exposure to how easy beauty and happiness can be found. I took the scores, practiced for a week on my own, and finally learned it. The happiness I felt was immeasurable.

Sadly, at 12 yr of age, I gave up music, since I moved from MAssachusetts, to Greece, where I lived in a boarding school with my siblings. Music was never that that big at my school, and I lost touch with that sense of beauty I experienced a few years earlier.

Finally, I saw a youtube video on how to play, if I remember correctly, LET IT BE by the BEatles, and I soon remembered how easily passion can help me achieve a goal. Only 2 years ago, I started up on piano, and then guitar. I’ve finally learned that music is not to be categorized into classical, jazz,rock etc.It;s all the same, and it’s all about what makes one happy.

Last year, after having had reasonable piano and guitar self-training, I felt it was time to startup again on theory and technique on an instrument i love and thus I started the saxophone, which I always admired. I can recall a day coming home from school and passing by a local music school that I never really noticed. I felt a strange urge to walk in. The owner saw me walk in and greeted me. The first words that came out of my mouth, almost instinctively, like a strange reflex, were “Do you offer saxophone lessons?” From then I started taking sax lessons, and I’ve never been happier. I tackle and strive to learn music that I love.

In the end of the day, It comes down to as,I think Rao said “It’s the process, not the outcome” that bring us happiness. And I could not agree more. Music brings me happiness everyday. IT teaches us values like concentration, repetition (as a famous Ancient Greek adage goes “Repetition is the mother of knowledge”), organized learning process, Self-confidence, and most importantly fun. Although, my experience has shown me that, at least in Greece, the arts are largely underfunded, and I would love to make it my life goal to change this on a global scale. Music, as you say, is everywhere.But we of the 21st century have lost our contact with it. We pay more attention to other mundane things, disregarding the beauties of Creation.

Therefore, I thank you for giving me, with the tremendous work you put in to your lessons and your career, the basis for self-reflection. Music makes me happy, and i’m unfortunately many times discouraged from studying it, since my parents believe that it’s not profitable, even though they love it deep down (since they’re the ones that got me started :p). But despite counter-forces putting me down, I will stick to what I love, and let this musical path for happiness lead me to somewhere that I’ll be proud reaching.

Thanks walt.

Your work is amazing, and truly inspiring

Cheers,

Stavros Papadopoulos
17yrs old
Thessaloniki, Greece

See me:  avatar_character.jpg?