Jeri Kelly Santos

When I was a kid, I was actually forced to learn the piano during summer just to have something to do but as I learned more about it, I became more interested about it. Since then, piano as a hobby and a yearly summer vacation activity is something I look forward every year when I was younger.  I started learning pieces note by note, as in literally counting it one by one and it would take me weeks before I finish a piece. I also started with books like Michael Aaron, John Thompsons, to the First lessons of Bach and Czerny Op. 599. I remember myself, hating those books! But as time passed by, I enjoyed learning piano even more, and performing in a recital, because I can feel the happiness and fulfillment in every piece that I play.  Studying piano and taking it as a major was not my goal back then, it was never easy for me to decide on this major due to everyone who were against this, especially some distant family members. They would always ask “Why music? You can't have a de...