There are many ways to express oneself, through clothing, visual arts, words - but music is the common language "which needs no translation" as poet and author Berthold Auerbach remarked. The sound itself communicates ideas instantaneously, across cultures, no barriers. We can express ourselves through the music we listen to; allowing us to tell others who we are, though it is likely not a full representation of ourselves. Or, if we play music, we can exercise our own freedom of speech through this universal language. We have the ability to define ourselves to the outside world with infinite possibilities.

This is why I teach piano lessons. Because I value self-expression and can speak fluently in the language of music, I want to share this privilege with my students so they can too speak the language and express themselves.