If you want to go far, go together.

“If you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, go together.” – not really an African proverb.

Many pianists are loners. Understandably so.

Pianists train by mastering solo repertoires. Compare that to, say a violinist. At the very least you play with a pianist. And there are the youth orchestras, and the ensemble classes, and playing scales together. Most instruments are portable. Pianos, most definitely, are not. Instead, there are endless number of solo repertoire for the piano. And almost any music, from symphonies to chorales can be arranged for a solo piano. So, we grow up embracing our solitude at the piano, practicing alone for hours on end.

During my conservatory days, I spent most of my waking hours practicing. The conservatory practice rooms in the middle of Manhattan were barely big enough to contain a piano. The only window in the room was a elongated peephole on the soundproof door so heavy that it trapped you inside like a jail cell. I couldn’t afford the rent for a place big enough to house a piano, and complained about having to do all my practicing at school. But in retrospect, that might just have saved my sanity. It forced me to leave my room, exposing myself to the morning sun. I took the subway, and saw the real world outside. At school, the security guards greeted us, and there were schoolmates with whom I exchanged words. Even once inside the soundproof practice room, the faint sound of my neighbors practicing Bach and Chopin kept me motivated, feeling competitive.

There are days now, where I write like I used to practice. Sometimes, I end up sitting all day long inside the house, typing away. …This can’t healthy! This can’t be sustainable!

Remembering from my dissertation writing days, I signed up for a local “Shut Up & Write” group. Once a week, we get together at a cafe. After announcing that day’s goal, we just sit next to each other and work on our writing project, whatever it might be for each of us. But knowing that you are with your fellow writers, sitting next to you typing away each week, leads to a feeling security, alliance, and camaraderie. It encourages and energizes me.

And it makes me grateful for my practice buddies from years ago. I wonder how they are now…