Back to the Keys: Rediscovering My Love for Piano
Lately I’ve been hooked on something other than drawing or building Lego—playing piano! It’s a return to an old love, sparked by a lucky thrift find and some new sheet music.
Besides drawing and building Lego, I’ve recently been getting back into something I used to love as a kid: playing piano! When I was little, I used to spend hours practicing every day because I just loved it that much. But gradually, I drifted away from it.
A few years ago, my husband found a secondhand digital piano at a thrift store and brought it home. It’s been with us ever since, but I didn’t really play it consistently until recently. What brought me back? In December, I got my hands on an official piano score book from one of my favorite Japanese artists, Gen Hoshino. That was the push I needed to start playing again.
Many of the songs are tricky, but I was surprised to find I could still play through some parts by sight-reading. I’m definitely not ready to play in front of anyone, but for now I’m just enjoying practicing between illustration sessions or whenever I need a break. When I play, I become completely absorbed in the notes and keys, and it clears my mind in the best way. And when I finally manage to play something well, the sense of accomplishment is so satisfying!
Plus, moving my fingers like that is great exercise for the brain, so it’s a win all around!