Just Being At the Piano

Harmony begins in the Soul, Long before the first note is PlayedThere are many approaches to piano theory. They range from the simpletechnique of reading music and touching the keys, to playing-by-ear, butfew have taken the inner path that begins in the soul. Mildred PortneyChase merged her piano lessons with the discipline of mindful Buddhistpractice and created an experience that evokes not just music for thepleasure of the listener, but a journey that leads the student to a world ofcalm and peacefulness flowing from the soul out into the universe . . . ever-evolving day-by-day within the heart of the student. She writes: "e;Just being at the piano egoless is to each time seek toreach that place where the only thing that exists is the sound and movingtoward the sound. The music on the page that was outside of you is nowwithin you, and moves through you; you are a channel for the music, andplay from the center of your being . . . You are at one with yourself and the act, and feel as if the playing has already happened and you are effortlessly releasing it. The music is in your hands, in the air, in the room, the music is everywhere, and the whole universe is contained in the experience of playing."e;