by Susanne Maziarz, Music Director at Neighbourhood
My dear friend Sarah John likens performing classical piano music to waltzing through a mine field. At any moment, with a small slip of the finger, you could end up setting off a big bomb. When she first made this analogy, I laughed until I cried because it seemed a bit exaggerated but there is some truth to it as well.
There is always a risk when I perform another composer’s music. What if I play wrong notes? Will I ruin the experience of the music for the congregation? Will I have enough control over my own fingers to share what I love and hear in the music to the listeners?
I play wrong notes in 99% of the pieces I perform. I take the risk of losing respect, offending the listeners’ ears, disrespecting the composer and piece of music, and ultimately lowering my own self-respect. But I continue to learn more pieces and serve the congregation through my interpretations of the music.
For me, it is of more value to share my love and appreciation of these art pieces and to remain in a state of gratitude and pleasure and sharing than to limit the shared experience of a piece of music to fretting over a sour note.
I hope you feel the same way.