Lately, I’ve been asking a bunch of people, “how’s it going with piano?”, and by far, the most common answer is “It’s not, sadly! Been insanely busy lately but it’s all good!”

Since I’m a piano teacher, you may think I’ve some particular reaction to that answer. I don’t know, but I’m not judging it. I don’t think it’s a bad answer, but I do want to know where it’s coming from.

I want to know what this conversation even is.

So, let me if I’m following this.

Piano used to be important to you but now it’s not.

Or, maybe I should say:

You used to NOT be too busy for piano and now you’re too busy.

To be clear, this isn’t some kind of Jewish guilt trip. It might be true that you’ve got other things going on that are more important than piano. So, I’m not saying piano should be the most important thing. Nor am I saying it should be important at all.

But, I want to understand what’s going on because something’s not adding up.

For example, if a personal trainer were to ask, “how’s it going with your working out?”, you wouldn’t say “I’m too busy to exercise.” At least, you wouldn’t say it without some kind of shame, with a straight face.

Or, if a doctor were to ask you “how’s it going with that cancer treatment?”, you wouldn’t say “tbh I’ve been more focused on making money lately, but thanks for asking.”

So, why is it socially acceptable to be too busy for piano but not too busy for your health?

Now, I’m not saying it shouldn’t be socially acceptable to be too busy for piano. I don’t think piano is as important as your health. But, if it’s not important, why did you ever do it? Why would anybody ever do it? Why not just take that time you spend on piano and spend it on health?

I want to understand the difference.

Why is it easier to say—with a straight face—that you don’t have time for piano than it is to say that about health? Or, about relationships? Or money? Or vacations? Or religion? Or the environment?

I could make a whole list of things where you can’t say you don’t have time for them. And I could make a list where you can say that.

Piano’s on the second list. Why?

I want to understand the implications of this. What’s going on with society?

Ok, maybe that’s not entirely honest of me…this isn’t just a philosophical thing. I want to understand what’s going on in this conversation.

What’s the real conversation we should be having? Because I don’t think this is it. But, it seems to me we have to work through this one before we can get to the real one.

Help me out here.

—Michael

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