My Husband Taught HimselfBy Humayun Altaf
My husband recently astonished me with his new hobby, teaching himself how to play piano chords. He could already play piano on a simple level, and sometimes, it even sounded appealing. I didn't support him in learning, however. When the piano started exuding melodies over and over again until it sounded right, quit often for hours at a time, I would let out a grumbling a complaints. It would remind me of younger years when my brother would practice his trumpet, hearing the same key or chord or even part of a song playing over and over again.
His predominantly favorite way to learn how to play piano chords was to watch YouTube instructional videos. He has a ton of different videos collected in his "favorites" on his computer relating to learning how to play. There was a point when I thought about erasing all of his favorites, but I couldn't bring myself to be that spiteful.
Another thing that he delved into were the learn how to play piano chords books and DVD's. He boasted to me how much he was learning through one or another, but I paid no attention. I became exhausted of the subject within 5 minutes. It seems he learned quite a bit through the books, considering the progress he was making.
At one point, I remember him contacting people that taught lessons on piano chords, but he never really followed through with it. I think that was my fault, considering I threw a fit and told him that I had better things to spend our money on. I never did admit to him that his music was already sounding good without the lessons.
I struggled constantly through his practicing to keep my mouth shut and ignore what seemed like a record skipping for hours on end. I do feel bad about not supporting my husband in learning something he really loved and wanted to accomplish. Normally, I am the first one in line to support my husband in anything that he does.
Despite my efforts to dissuade him, he stayed focused on his goals, and day after day, he would peck away at what he believed would sound breathtaking if he could just master it. With the use a several books (instructional or ones with music sheets), investigations on the internet, and practicing, practicing, practicing, he made progress in his music playing and actually began to play inspiringly well. No thanks to me.
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