THE HARMONY ROAD COMMUNITY

I was first introduced to piano through Harmony Road’s program, where I learned a great deal and formed many fond memories. Harmony Road has always been a welcoming community, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in music. Ms. Sarah taught me many new skills, and I even discovered my love for Chopin through her classes. My favorite memories include performing at the Christmas market every year, performing a concerto with Ms. Sarah at the festival, and learning with other students during group class. During my time at Harmony Road, I had the opportunity to experience how music brings people together through shared experiences, which is one of the reasons I love music today.

Now that I have graduated from high school, I am excited to continue playing piano by pursuing a minor at UCSD and taking lessons from their piano faculty! I plan to major in General Biology on the pre-med track, and I believe doing music alongside my academic pursuits will give me a good sense of balance!

Mariah joined classes at Harmony Road at age three and has been in Ms. Andrea's and Ms. Sarah's classes ever since. She has now graduated from Rex Putnam High School in 2024.

Written by Mariah Marks, 2024:

There are a few aspects of my life that have had as much of an impact on me as playing the piano. Being an interest that has stuck with me the longest, it holds great importance every day, and I will never forget the joy it has brought me throughout my years attending Harmony Road. I’ve been playing the piano for most of my life, but it took many years for me to truly appreciate the value of musical expression and technique. I began to appreciate the significance of each note and the spaces of rest between them, the precise placement of every finger, and the pressure applied to every individual key. The way the wrist rolls through a scale, and the way the hand flicks through a trill. Small details like these have helped me learn how to bring emotion into music. The idea of illustrating a song in my own way gives me excitement whenever I sit down at a piano, whether I’m by myself or on stage at a recital. In many ways, this idea makes other features of playing piano more enjoyable.

I love the piano. I love the effort and practice that comes with getting to know a song. I love the first sight of new sheet music, fresh and warm from the printer, the notes unknown but promising like a kind stranger. I love the familiar sight of old sheet music, ink faded over time, the paper creases smiling like an old friend. I love the long, diligent nights of playing to prepare for festivals. I love the mistakes and stumbles I make, knowing that one day I will be able to play it right. I love driving to the recitals, the sound of the car thrumming along to the rhythm playing in my head as I rehearse the notes. I love arriving early and finding my place in a numbered seat, clutching my music book with anticipation. I love seeing the crowd wander into the room, slowly filling the empty space with friendly faces and words of encouragement. I love hearing the bustling voices of the audience scatter into the silence as the first performer’s name is called, peeking out from behind the corners until the applause comes. I love the nervous flutter in my stomach right before stepping onto the stage. I love feeling that flutter fly away as I forget about my surroundings. I love sitting down at the piano bench, feeling the weight of the pedal beneath my shoe as I steady my sheet music in front of me. I love the smooth ivory keys that glisten under a spotlight like the ocean’s surface on a bright summer day. I love the curve of the grand piano lid arching over me like a gaping jaw, only to reveal it’s heart of strings and soul of unhindered resonance. I love taking in a small, shaky breath right before the playing begins. I love watching the pianist’s hands dance across the keys. I love the loud chords that burst through the room and blow the audience away. I love the quiet chords that linger in the air and bring the audience in. I love the gentle, flowing melodies that weave through the audience like wind through trees. I love the quick myriad of notes that whiz past the audience like a flurry of rain in a relentless storm. I love feeling that trickle of nervousness give way to a surge of determination, lifting me higher as I reach the summit of the song. I love playing the last chord, as it rings through the quiet room. I love hearing the polite applause as I take my seat and await the next performer. I love feeling the relief wash over me, knowing that I’ll experience it all again. My experience with the piano has refined my perception of music, deepening my connection to the songs I play. It gives me motivation to learn and enjoy the process of something I care about. The skills and opportunities I gained during my time at Harmony Road have enhanced my enjoyment of music, enabling me to reflect this through my performances so that others can share in the same experience. My indelible memories of piano will continue to inspire me to create more in the future, as I plan to learn more pieces on my own time and relive moments of accomplishment as I further expand my abilities.

George just received a full-ride scholarship to attend the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he’ll major in piano performance & composition. He also plays the cello and bass clarinet, and while at Rex Putnam High School, he was a member of their award-winning drumline. George recently played keyboards in the musical Prometheus and will continue to work with Michael Allen Harrison in an apprenticeship role on a new film project. George is going to soar in the music world because of his curiosity,

In George's own words:

I began taking piano lessons at Harmony Road at age nine. They were initially intended as a sort of therapy for a series of traumatic events that had occurred earlier, eventually leading to my adoption by my grandparents.

I studied with Ms. Judy until I left the school at age fifteen, making rapid progress and earning a collection of Superior ratings and Gold Cups at festivals and OFMC events. During this time, I was a member of various classes and had the opportunity to meet and interact with many students. I spent a lot of time outside of lessons at the school as well—from helping with summer camps and moving locations to practicing on different pianos.

As my musical fluency and experience expanded and compounded, I found it necessary to take the next step, leading to a tuition-free apprenticeship with pianist/composer Michael Allen Harrison. Under his guidance, building on the basics I learned at Harmony Road, I maintained continuous growth, expanding my skills to encompass music composition, production, songwriting, and orchestration. Seeking further musical engagement, I opted to join every advanced music ensemble at my high school over the course of three years, which led to fluency and experience on multiple instruments across various styles. These experiences have enabled me to participate in significant performances, interviews, summer programs, and other experiences.

I will continue my musical journey next year at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where I received a full-tuition scholarship to study Composition. Without those first steps with Harmony Road, I would be a completely different person living a completely different life. I have found what I want to do, and I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to pursue it. - George

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