A TASTE OF MY OWN MEDICINE

That was it, I had signed myself to a pool of embarrassment. How was I going to stand confidently infront of million pairs of piercing eyes, not to mention joining the keys correctly to the tune. For a moment i felt like I quiting the whole thing, that's what the timid side of me suggested. I sat quietly in my room, it was just me facing the piano. I had no one to mentor me nor a friend to support me. I gentle pressed each key, aiming to know the pitch of the keys. All I wanted was to become a part on the cool guys' band. 

I was coming from college as usual when I came across the musicians of the famous band, they stopped me and gave me the flyer to their concept. Browsing at the paper, something caught my attention. They were three guys in the picture and four tasks to be carried out. Just to kill the curiosity in me, I asked about the pianist. Little did I know that I was making my own bed and soon I had to lie on it. Well they had no pianist in their band and upon hearing that, I said the wrong words at the wrong time. 

Later on that day, I went into the basement and there it was, my grandfather's old piano. I pulled the cloth covering it, dust filled the whole room. Dusting the keys I took a chair and sat right infront of it. I had no idea where to start, I had not played the piano before let alone watching someone playing. That moment I needed a pillar to lean on, just then my grandfather appeared. Stupidity ruled over me again when he questioned my sudden interest on the piano. I had no idea what his reaction will be so I lied about the whole situation. I told the old man that I was just servicing it, that was my worst mistake. 

As soon as he left the room, I played whatever I thought was right. On a serous note, the sounds where terrible, evena five year old could play much better. Now that I knew the high and low pitch, I tried to produce some sweet sounds and now it was even more terrifying.

The following day I skipped school, I had so much in my mind. I also kept my phone off, just incase if those guys called. They were quite bulky, it wasn't going to take much time to crush me. I used the landline to call my friend Ben, he knew nothing about the piano but I'm sure he knew someone who do. He came to my place as soon as school was dismissed. I dragged him to the basement, he was clueless of what I wanted from him. Just then I told him my story.

"I joined the RAIDERS band", I said as I watched the bewildered look on his face.

"I told them I was the best pianist they could hire. I lied about my experience so they want to meet with me in three days time", I continued my story in embarrassment, handing the flyer to him. 

"The concert is in two week", he said adding more stress to my miserable life. 

He was right, I had only three days to understand the art of playing a piano and the rest of the time to know the song we were going to play. Ben was a good friend, he spoke to a few people he knew and the following day I had to start my first lesson. Lucky me, grandfather spent most of his weekend fishing. 

A while later I went back to the basement, I atarted pressing the keys randomly, the feeling of holding the piano was good. It was going to be better if I knew how to play at least one song. I took some notes which grandpa used to play, I knew nothing about what they meant. It was a different language altogether. I called it a day and left the basement.

The time for my first lesson came, it was my mentor and I against the piano. He explained the whole keyboard to me, the octaves and the keys. The theory lesson was tiring or rather boring. It didn't take much time though, soon I was telling him how I got stuck with the piano thing. As soon as I finished the story, I saw grandpa standing at the door and surprising enough he wanted to have a word with me. Now problems escalated in my life.

A while later we were in the living room with grandpa. He neither said a word nor did I. Now that he knew what happened I felt relaxed. After sometime, his cough broke the silence. He offered to teach me the best skills. I was puzzled, he himself, teaching me the art and principles of piano. I was happy with the good news.

We carried the piano to the lounge, wasting no time we started on first practical lesson. Now that I had already leant the the theory part of it, we jumped to the practical. I watched him as he slowly pressed each key, talking note of the sequence. He then gave me the opportunity to show that which I have learnt. Slowly pressing one ke after the other, I played a nice tune though I had made a couple of mistakes. I continued practicing the same song again and again, now I knew the keys by head. 

Grandpa showed me different songs to play, school was becoming more of an obstacle to my piano lessons. I only had a day before meeting with musicians. Now that I had a couple of songs to impress them with, I spent the day practicing one song after the other, it was now fun.

Now the moment to impress had come, I did everything the way grandpa had taught me, I focused on the keys rather than their faces. To my surprice, the guys were pleased that they wanted me to permanently join the band. That was it, I was finally part of them. Our first concept was in a week's time. I was going to be famous.