A teacher once told me, “You have to ask yourself whether or not you can live without playing the piano.”

But there was rent to pay and college loans were coming due, so like many pianists, I began to teach. For years I was happy to have music in my life even if it was just Middle C and the surrounding notes. I felt fortunate to be able to set my own schedule and work with many interesting and talented students.

But that question has always been gnawing at me.

Now that I’ve started this “project” I’ve hardly let a day pass without sitting at the piano. I feel like I’ve come home!

Today I was preparing a Brahms Intermezzo for next Sunday’s recording and I thought of this video my son and his friends made. (He’s the cellist.) Such wisdom in these lyrics.

You must rise and shine each day. Like there is no time to waste. You must get up, create, there is no other way.