Inspiration from Condoleezza Rice

Dear Parents and Students in Music,

As we prepare for our next year in piano lessons, I wanted to share this article from Leila Viss a music colleague who attended the MTAC conference a couple of weeks ago.  She captured the fine points of the keynote speech that Condoleezza Rice presented and that I was honored to hear as well.  Here are some excerpts.

Truly an inspiration for all of us!

-Laura

 

What We Can Learn from the Parents of Condoleezza Rice, Pianist, and Politician

An article written by Leila Viss, blogger at 88pianokeys.me.

Find the article with colorful graphics and video here: https://88pianokeys.me/musings/what-we-can-learn-from-the-parents-of-condoleezza-rice-pianist-and-politician/

Last week I had the privilege of hearing Condoleezza Rice give the keynote address at the MTAC (Music Teachers of California) conference where the theme was “Breaking Barriers”.

 

Piano as a Child

Ms. Rice began piano lessons with her grandmother who was a classical pianist trained in the 19th century in Birmingham, Alabama. She charged 25 cents a lesson.

Condoleezza adored playing the piano and was eager to learn her first hymn, “What a Friend We have in Jesus.” Her parents–both teachers–told her that if she learned the hymn perfectly they would buy her a real piano to replace the small keyboard she used for home practice.

She learned the hymn in a day, skipping lunch to make sure it was perfect for her

parents. As life would have it, her parents didn’t have the money to buy a piano that day but eventually, they made good on their promise.

At age four, it was clear Condoleezza was a prodigy. Her grandmother declared she needed a different teacher and so at age 9, Condoleezza’s mother (also a fine pianist) began giving her lessons.

By age 10, Condoleezza wanted to quit piano but her mom replied,

“You’re not old enough or good enough to quit.”

The Birmingham Southern Conservatory had just begun integrating (accepting students of all races) and Condoleezza’s parents decided that she should audition for the school.

After the young pianist played, the professor at her audition stated that “the girl did very well.”

From the tone of the professor’s comment, Condoleezza’s dad inferred how the professor was inclined to finish his sentence and quipped, “Did he expect her to dance on the table?”

Ms. Rice was accepted to the conservatory and then continued her studies at the

University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music to study piano–yes, where I received my MA in piano performance and pedagogy and now where I’ll be heading up the Piano Prep program!

During a summer break, she attended the Aspen Music Festival and witnessed twelve-year-olds sight-reading music that took her weeks to learn. This startling “dose of reality” triggered a switch in her career path and she decided to pursue her second love–international politics.

Ms. Rice became a Soviet specialist and later served as the 66th United States Secretary of State in the administration of George Bush. Currently, she is a professor of political science at Stanford University.

Piano as an Avocation

Ms. Rice felt music-making was a huge part of her success in her present career. As she continued her speech, she inspired teachers with a list of qualities that develop from studying music even if it’s an avocation and not a vocation.

Playing piano is not my vocation but, it is my avocation.

1) Passion: Studying music will help youngsters find a passion. This passion will lead to dedication and commitment.

“This passion will lead to dedication and commitment.”

2) Faults: Got any? They will be revealed at the piano.

“Procrastinator? You can’t be one as a music major.”

3) Patience: Slow practice is best and it’s good to practice patience.

“It’s hard to fix a race car when it’s traveling 120 miles per hour.”

4) Confidence: A boost in confidence is guaranteed as a musician.

“You gain a healthy respect for what could go wrong, have the ability to stay on edge and learn to gain control.”

5) Preparation: Musicians attain the ability to not panic when something goes wrong.

“It’s not a matter of whether but when things will go wrong. Sometimes you have to get out of trouble and be ready to do so.”

6) Education: Music offers a chance for life-long learning.

“Music and arts are equal to STEM and are the most important expression of a culture.”

“Live in the present, remember the past and expect a future. The arts connect those.”

“The arts access humanity like nothing else can.”

Piano as a Politician

Despite the fork in her career path, Ms. Rice continues to enjoy her avocation which has led to many exciting opportunities.

She’s received repeated requests from Yo-Yo Ma to collaborate. Below is a video of them performing at the Kennedy Center and her explanation of how they decided to play Brahms while she was National Security Advisor.

As she was stepping down from Secretary of State she was invited to play at Buckingham Palace where she performed for her royal highness, Queen Elizabeth.

Ms. Rice decided to use an iPad while playing the first movement of Schumann’s Piano

Concerto in A minor with the Omaha Symphony but was apprehensive about using the device and memorized the piece instead. Upon hearing of this significant feat, Stanford’s head of neurology exclaimed:

Do you have any idea what you did for your neural plasticity?

As a professor of politics at Stanford, she also takes lessons with the head of the Stanford piano department and had this to say…

“I’m really glad my mother didn’t let me quit at 10.”

In her speech, Ms. Rice never called attention to what she has accomplished. One of her most memorable quotes was this:

“Nobody sets out to be the first.”

From her story, it’s clear that her parents fully supported her efforts, as they

• Nurtured young Condoleezza’s passion at the piano at home first

• Offered her incentives

• Didn’t set her apart because of her prodigious skills until necessary

• Saw the need to get her the best teachers they could find AND afford

• Knew that she had potential and didn’t let her quit

• Bravely allowed her to step into the world of “integration” which undoubtedly pruned her skills and her self-esteem

• Kept their expectations for her career flexible

• Fully supported her when a shift in career was made.

• Remember the challenges of parenting

Teaching piano is a team effort. Regardless of whether music becomes a vocation or an avocation for a pianist, our goal as teachers and parents should be that a young musician will one day follow the lead of Condoleezza Rice and say with confidence…

“I’m really glad my mother didn’t let me quit piano at 10!”

-Condoleezza Rice, 66th United States Secretary of State