Difiore's Music

After my parents realized that my obsession with the Casio SK-1 was not just a passing phase, they recommend that I receive some formal training on the instrument. 

Difiores Music was a small local music shop that sold instruments and offered music lessons. It was close enough for me to ride my bike, if weather permitted. I remember my first lesson vividly. Upon arrival, I was directed to a narrow descending staircase that led to the basement area. I was then introduced to my piano instructor. Her name was Jackie Warren, a jazz enthusiast and graduate from the Oberlin Conservatory. After greetings where exchanged she took me up to the storefront to purchase an introductory piano book. She also recommended that I buy a theory book, in combination with the piano book, as she was a firm believer in the importance of music theory. We then returned to a small windowless room that housed a full sized electric piano. To a young child the outward appearance of the synthetic instrument seemed identical to that of an acoustic piano, however, I remember thinking that the sound the this particular piano produced was not natural. Jackie then proceeded with a basic overview of the instrument. Jackie's enthusiasm, relative to my interest in composition, further fueled my budding passion for music composition  She finished the lesson by showing me, a simple chord progression in g major, that when equipped with an understanding of the fundamentals of music theory the possibilities of creation are effortless and endless. 

I jumped on my bike and road home as quickly as I could. I parked myself in front of the Casio SK-1 desperately trying to recall the chord progression she had taught me. As I my hands replicated the chords she demonstrated I thought how amazing it was to create such beauty. 

To this day, the process of creation ceases to amaze me.