Teaching More than Piano by Israel

Teaching More than Piano by Israel - January 2024 Scholarship Essay

I learned how to play piano in 2020, and it was an important experience for me. The experience taught me grit and the benefits of continuous practice. I gained newfound confidence through performing in front of many people. In addition, I learned more about music theory, giving me a better platform to learn more instruments. Learning to play piano was not a cheap endeavor and was a barrier that my family and I had to overcome. Nevertheless, learning to play piano was a pivotal life experience for me, so I wanted to pass on this experience to others. With these things in mind, over the summer I took on two students for free.
Every Saturday, I pick them up from their house in the afternoon and take them to our local church where I give them 90-minute piano lessons. There are two keyboards at the church so I can teach them simultaneously. I also gave them my first keyboard so that they would be able to practice at home. Over the last few months, I am glad to have seen how they have grown and how they gained confidence in themselves through constant improvements. Teaching my two students has not been easy but knowing how much they stand to gain from the learning experience keeps me going. This experience has inspired me to open up a non-profit organization that teaches low-income students how to play instruments, giving them skills for music and life.