Piano Forever?

Susan Hensley
Mar 12, 2018
2 min read

Did you know that's the name of the piano studio? I'll bet at least 50% of my students don't realize that's what it's called. That the studio should even have a name might seem unnecessary. Isn't this just where Susan Hensley teaches piano? When I started out teaching from my own dedicated space, I had high hopes for the future. And I thought the studio needed an inspiring name.

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I still do.

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I'm a mom and entrepreneur. It's safe to say everyone who knows me knows that in addition to the piano studio I also run a gardening business. If you're anything like me, sometimes things can feel overwhelming. Sometimes I doubt myself and whether I'm doing the right things. (Oh that photo on this post? That's me doubting my judgment on a spontaneous road trip to Ottawa...in an ice storm...see the window?). Between all of my responsibilities, I find I'm juggling and running and worrying...oh the worrying.

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I turn to piano.

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I turn to piano in the dark of night when worry takes over and my brain wants to problem-solve at 3 am. I turn to piano on dark winter days when the seasonality of my gardening business has caused a disruption in my schedule which requires adjustment, and with it, worry.

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I KNOW HOW LUCKY I AM.

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I can turn to the piano to find comfort and quiet my mind. If I had quit piano lessons when I was 13 (like I really really wanted to), I would not be able to turn to piano now. My piano teacher told me to stick with it when I told her I wanted to quit. Her words "What? But you're so talented, why would you give this up?" I didn't feel talented. It was a lot of hard work and I wanted to do other things. Easier things. Things where I wouldn't always be making mistakes.

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Thank you Maria Menkoff. I don't know where you are now but I am part of your legacy.

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I have 40 students. A full schedule with no room for anyone else to join. It makes me sad each time I have to turn a new student away. There are only so many hours in the day, I have high hopes to expand my teaching capacity in the future so I can bring many more little humans along on this journey. And if they are upset with making mistakes, bored with practicing, tempted to quit, I will tell them "What? But you're so talented, why would you give this up?" (OK, maybe I'll change it up a bit, but you get my point).

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