Page 33 - COBCA Durga Puja 2019 Brochure - Online Version
P. 33
DurgaPuja 2019
Keys to Life
Atreyee Atarthi, Grade 11
Today when I look back at those old-level books containing pictures of a piano, I can imagine myself
learning on that piano with my teacher, Mr. Williams. When I heard and looked at those first pieces of
music I played on the piano, the soft, happy, melodious sounds put a wide smile on my face. After I hear
the resonant voices of music, (imagery) I just wish I could go back in time to when I first met Mr.
Williams.
I still remember that evening of July 7, 2011 (flashback), where the sun was smiling at us while it was
sinking down the horizon (personification). I was extremely nervous that day; I was having many types
of thoughts while I waited in the hallway. I still remember the surprise I felt at first seeing Mr. Williams’
appearance. He had dark, curly brown hair, big blue eyes, and he wore rectangular glasses (imagery).
He met me with a warm, welcoming smile.
“Hi! My name is Jim Williams. Nice to meet you. What is your name?”
I was really nervous to say anything, but I somehow was able to muster out, “I’m Atreyee Atarthi.”
When I entered the music room, the first thing that entered my sight was the large piano sitting at the
corner of the room (personification). It was big, lustrous, and a light brown wood color (imagery). I tried
playing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” but the keys were so heavy that I couldn’t push them down
properly. As Mr. Williams sat down next to me, He handed me a red colored CD case and when I
opened the case, I saw a silver colored disc with the words “Musikgarten, Music Makers: At the
Keyboard” typed on the CD in black bold letters (imagery). Mr. Williams explained to me what the
content of Musikgarten was like and what I would have to do. By the end of class, he gave me my first
assignment of learning to play the D major and G major tonic chord and starting to learn the songs,
“Stars Shining” and “Listen for Bells”.
I practiced the songs and D major so much that week at home that I knew I had mastered the D Major
tonic chord. But right before leaving for class, I realized that I did not practice my G major tonic chord. I
was freaking out like crazy. Tears filled up my eyes as I was going to class. I was immensely afraid of
what Mr. Williams' reaction would be when finds out that I didn’t complete my homework.
When I got to class, my heart was beating fast, and I was repeatedly debating whether or not I should
tell Mr. Williams that I forgot to practice half of the homework he gave me. Mr. Williams knew by
looking at my worried face that I probably didn’t do something, so he told me to calm down and relearn
the chord again. That day, I realized that he was a really kind-hearted person to have as a teacher.
The next 3 years went by like a gust of wind (simile). I had successfully completed all six levels of
Musikgarten, and now, I was being introduced to pieces of music in a new “Celebration Series”. But on
the other hand, my schoolwork had started getting more complicated since I was in middle school now.
I couldn’t spend as much time practicing my music with the increase of homework and studies, but I
was still able to manage 45 minutes of playing the piano every day.
My biggest nightmare was the day Mr. Williams handed me an examination form for the winter of
2016. It had been 2 years since I had started this new “Celebration Series”, and now I had to take an
exam. I was really stressed out because I hated performing in front of judges; also, I was one of Mr.
Williams’ best students, so he had high expectations for me. From then on, I had to become more
serious about my practicing.
Mr. Williams had given me 4 books to work on for Level 4: Piano Etudes, Piano Repertoire, Technical
Requirements, and Four Star. When I opened Technical Requirements, I just saw eight full pages of two
octave scales. I thought it was going to be really easy. But when I opened the Four-Star book, I felt like
my eyes were going to fall out (hyperbole). The Four-Star book contained sight reading, listening
practices, chord progressions, and rhythm practices. I looked at a few of the practices and concluded
that I would fail this part of the test, I’d never been successful in sight reading and listening. After
practicing a few elements in each book, Mr. Williams said that I would be completely shaped up by the
time of the exam.
Central Ohio Bengali Cultural Association
Keys to Life
Atreyee Atarthi, Grade 11
Today when I look back at those old-level books containing pictures of a piano, I can imagine myself
learning on that piano with my teacher, Mr. Williams. When I heard and looked at those first pieces of
music I played on the piano, the soft, happy, melodious sounds put a wide smile on my face. After I hear
the resonant voices of music, (imagery) I just wish I could go back in time to when I first met Mr.
Williams.
I still remember that evening of July 7, 2011 (flashback), where the sun was smiling at us while it was
sinking down the horizon (personification). I was extremely nervous that day; I was having many types
of thoughts while I waited in the hallway. I still remember the surprise I felt at first seeing Mr. Williams’
appearance. He had dark, curly brown hair, big blue eyes, and he wore rectangular glasses (imagery).
He met me with a warm, welcoming smile.
“Hi! My name is Jim Williams. Nice to meet you. What is your name?”
I was really nervous to say anything, but I somehow was able to muster out, “I’m Atreyee Atarthi.”
When I entered the music room, the first thing that entered my sight was the large piano sitting at the
corner of the room (personification). It was big, lustrous, and a light brown wood color (imagery). I tried
playing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” but the keys were so heavy that I couldn’t push them down
properly. As Mr. Williams sat down next to me, He handed me a red colored CD case and when I
opened the case, I saw a silver colored disc with the words “Musikgarten, Music Makers: At the
Keyboard” typed on the CD in black bold letters (imagery). Mr. Williams explained to me what the
content of Musikgarten was like and what I would have to do. By the end of class, he gave me my first
assignment of learning to play the D major and G major tonic chord and starting to learn the songs,
“Stars Shining” and “Listen for Bells”.
I practiced the songs and D major so much that week at home that I knew I had mastered the D Major
tonic chord. But right before leaving for class, I realized that I did not practice my G major tonic chord. I
was freaking out like crazy. Tears filled up my eyes as I was going to class. I was immensely afraid of
what Mr. Williams' reaction would be when finds out that I didn’t complete my homework.
When I got to class, my heart was beating fast, and I was repeatedly debating whether or not I should
tell Mr. Williams that I forgot to practice half of the homework he gave me. Mr. Williams knew by
looking at my worried face that I probably didn’t do something, so he told me to calm down and relearn
the chord again. That day, I realized that he was a really kind-hearted person to have as a teacher.
The next 3 years went by like a gust of wind (simile). I had successfully completed all six levels of
Musikgarten, and now, I was being introduced to pieces of music in a new “Celebration Series”. But on
the other hand, my schoolwork had started getting more complicated since I was in middle school now.
I couldn’t spend as much time practicing my music with the increase of homework and studies, but I
was still able to manage 45 minutes of playing the piano every day.
My biggest nightmare was the day Mr. Williams handed me an examination form for the winter of
2016. It had been 2 years since I had started this new “Celebration Series”, and now I had to take an
exam. I was really stressed out because I hated performing in front of judges; also, I was one of Mr.
Williams’ best students, so he had high expectations for me. From then on, I had to become more
serious about my practicing.
Mr. Williams had given me 4 books to work on for Level 4: Piano Etudes, Piano Repertoire, Technical
Requirements, and Four Star. When I opened Technical Requirements, I just saw eight full pages of two
octave scales. I thought it was going to be really easy. But when I opened the Four-Star book, I felt like
my eyes were going to fall out (hyperbole). The Four-Star book contained sight reading, listening
practices, chord progressions, and rhythm practices. I looked at a few of the practices and concluded
that I would fail this part of the test, I’d never been successful in sight reading and listening. After
practicing a few elements in each book, Mr. Williams said that I would be completely shaped up by the
time of the exam.
Central Ohio Bengali Cultural Association
