Every person is capable of wondrous creativity. Every person can learn to play the piano, create improvisations, and compose music.
How do I know? Years ago, I was a music major at Cal Arts, the California Institute of the Arts, where all non-music majors are required to take two years of piano lessons. I was asked to head the Secondary Piano Program, teaching piano to all the non-music majors.
Each semester, I had a hundred students. Three out of four of them entered my class not knowing how to play piano at all. Moreover, most of them thought that they had no musical talent. Within two years, every one of them not only learned to play the piano, but became expert at musical composition and improvisation.
What was my secret? No secret at all. Judaism teaches that every person is a tzelem Elokim, created "in the image of God." Though only God is the ultimate Creator, Who can create something from nothing, every person created in God's image can create something from something. Creativity is a spiritual process which, because we are all spiritual beings, is accessible to all of us.
Some people are more talented than others, and I'm not saying that everyone will end up performing in Carnegie Hall. But if you have a soul, you can create. Anyone who has the notion that the world of creativity is reserved for a special few simply has not yet tapped into the rich and deeply spiritual world of creativity that exists for all. Everyone can tap into the holy world of music.
THE METHOD
Spiritual Piano Playing is accomplished by making oneself a pure instrument for God's music. The problem is not how to create music; the problem is how to remove the impediments that block the music that's flowing from the transcendental Source. To become a creator, the student's work is to allow his or her vessel to empty of all the egoistic blockages, so that God's music can flow through him or her. At the height of the creative process, the musician/artist/writer feels animated by a Higher Source. They often say, "My hands are playing, but the music is coming from the One Above."
The opposite of the creative process is self-criticism.
The opposite of the creative process is self-criticism. Most children grow up with heavy doses of criticism from well-meaning parents and teachers. Whatever the child does is either "bad" or "wrong" or "not good enough." Children internalize this criticism, carrying it with them into adulthood as self-criticism; it becomes the dam that blocks all their creative energy.
Spiritual Piano Playing requires the opposite of criticism. To improvise, the student must stop trying to criticize, censor, and control, and instead allow music to emerge freely, without judgment, from the soul within. To improvise on the piano (or to paint or write, etc.) the student must suspend all self-judgment. (The time for editing is after the piece is created, not during the creative process.
There is, in all of us, a yetzer hara, a negative, destructive force, the voice of ego, which rasps: "That sounds stupid... I feel silly... That theme is boring... I made a mistake... I can't play it well enough... What will others think of this composition?" For creativity to take place, this voice must be ignored.
I tell my students not to listen to these self-judgmental messages, to turn them off like a radio interfering with our piano lessons. When my students are improvising, I give them complete approval, without any judgmental feedback. I tape their improvisation, and play it back to them. Even with very young students, the fact that I valued their composition enough to record it builds their self-esteem and frees them to compose even more beautifully.
I tell all of my students: "There's no such thing as a mistake -- only a creative opportunity. Anytime a note gets in that a student didn't mean to play, I teach the student how to make it work within the piece or how to use it as a starting point to move into a different section with the music.
I cannot overemphasize the importance of a teacher intently listening to a child‘s needs and desires. Too often, teachers automatically take so much control in lessons, seeking to mold the child into a young imitation of themselves that they actually squash the young student's innate quest to learn and create.
Listening to one's student's needs non-judgmentally, and balancing this with guidance, is a difficult feat. Giving direction is a natural inclination for a teacher, but it often interferes with allowing the student's creativity to emerge from within. To allow creativity to emerge, teachers need to let go of their own personal expectations and agendas for their students.
Most piano teachers ignore the individual leanings of each particular student. They give the students a set amount of time to learn each piece, whether the piece is a favorite of the child's or one that he dislikes. This mechanical approach is diametrically opposed to the spiritual approach, which affirms the Divine essence of every student. A computer can play with virtuoso dexterity, but only a Divine soul can play with "soul," with feeling. Only a Divine soul can create.
FROM FAILURE TO SUCCESS
Lisa (not her real name) was 12 years old. She was learning disabled, with ADHD. Lisa couldn't sit still or concentrate, couldn't absorb or learn anything, couldn't retain information, was failing in school, and had no friends. Though she behaved with a certain bravado, this was a cover-up for low self-esteem.
Lisa's parents brought her to me. "Please give our daughter something she can succeed in!" they begged. "Something that will help her to feel good about herself."
My approach is to enter the child's inner world, with acceptance and without any judgments. I had Lisa improvise at the piano. She would compose a few bars of music and transcribe them onto music paper. Then I'd ask her to visualize a title for her melody, and put lyrics or a story to the music, to draw a picture illustrating the song. I would ask her to dance to the rhythm of the song.
Thus the full range of Lisa's creativity was tapped. And for everything she did, I gave her only positive feedback, with no criticism at all.
As the months went by, Lisa herself began to make requests about what she wanted to learn. She wanted to learn how to read music, she said. And how to play classical pieces. Since every step was coming from her own personal will, her motivation to learn was extremely high. She learned with lightning speed.
As her self-confidence grew, Lisa also did better in school.
In order for this process to succeed, I knew that her family's support was crucial. I taped the numerous compositions that Lisa composed, and suggested that she share the recordings with her family. Meanwhile, I encouraged Lisa's family to pay close attention and to seek out some merit in every piece that she composed. Soon, Lisa was setting up performances in her home, playing her compositions, arrangements, improvisations, and classical pieces. Her family listened carefully and pointed out what they liked about each piece. Lisa's self-confidence grew.
As her self-confidence grew, Lisa also did better in school. A few years went by, and Lisa could read and transpose music. She had capable classical piano skills. She could perform, compose, arrange, and improvise, as well as write lyrics. Lisa became an excellent singer, joined a choir, won the lead in several of her high school plays, and became a phenomenal poetess. She composed 15 amazing pieces of music in various styles: Jewish, Broadway, classical, etc.
Later still, Lisa created operas and plays. Today this formerly learning-disabled child is a brilliant, prolific, and successful professional composer.
MUSIC HEALS
Music is, by nature, therapeutic. Once you learn how to improvise, you can express on the instrument whatever you're feeling. It's sort of a musical homeopathy. If you're feeling depressed, you don't decide that, since depression is something bad that you shouldn't be feeling, you'll play happy music to try to counteract it. Instead, you play music that matches how you feel. As you improvise the music that expresses whatever state of mind you're in, without judging it, the music naturally transforms into a different state, usually positive, and you transform along with it.
A person who learns this spiritual approach to creativity will never be hampered by "writer's block" or its corresponding version in other art forms. As long as we believe that the creative expression is coming from us, we're vulnerable to dry periods and "not being in the mood." But when I believe that my creative expression flows through me from a Higher Source, then I'm connected to an inexhaustible Source of inspiration, at all times and in all moods.
Especially with children, the spiritual approach to music lessons can make the difference between an unpleasant and pleasant experience (How many adults remember with horror their childhood piano lessons?) and a fascinating journey into the child's inner kingdom.
The essential ingredient here is respect for the child's inner world. An adult has much to learn from it. This kingdom consists of the child's life experiences, feelings, worldview, strengths and weaknesses, values, self-image, past traumas, places that need to heal, and, of course, his soul. When tapping into a student's inner reservoir, the teacher continually discovers what direction the child needs to take with his or her music not only in order to learn new skills, but also to create, grow, heal, and become transformed. Since life and human beings are always changing, teachers need to continually re-tune into their students' inner world.
When the teacher enters the student's inner world, without judgment, the child then learns how to safely enter this sacred world by him/herself. Once this occurs, the child can explore limitlessly and grow in multiple directions by engaging in the creative process.
In this way, Spiritual Piano Lessons are life lessons.
This article originally appeared in © Mishpacha Magazine 2006
(18) sandra Cifuentes, November 17, 2016 12:15 AM
I loved your article spiritual piano lessons. I play the keyboard by ear and it heals my character, specially with mom's stroke recovery.
Your articles are very interesting. I m not Jewish, but I've reached at a Jewish preschool. Love your music. Thanks
(17) Renata Celeste, November 18, 2014 2:28 AM
Thank You
I am grateful to have discovered your music and this article.
I am in my first month of learning to play the piano. I am being led to express in this way during a time of healing and much clearing.
I will explore the sites that you have listed. I hope to find further instruction, as I am currently self teaching. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing and for all that You do. Your music is Divine.
(16) Karen Pichel, October 8, 2011 11:58 PM
what an inspiring article!
Shoshannah, I so enjoyed reading this article. It inspired me on many levels. I've also heard your music and absolutely love it. You're not only a talented musician and teacher, but also a great writer! May Hashem bless you with much success in all of your endeavors! Shanah Tovah U'Metukah!
(15) Anonymous, March 18, 2011 9:12 PM
Thanks for Sharing Experiences
I think it's inspirational just to hear your background and thoughts.
(14) Shoshannah Sarah, December 29, 2010 12:15 AM
From Shoshannah Sarah
Many people have attempted to contact me after reading my article but they didn't have the information to reach me. You can email me at thehealingpiano@yahoo.com or phone my 24 hour NY voicemail 212 802 7228. I split my time between Jerusalem and NY and available for piano lessons and piano therapy. Healing piano CDs are available at thehealingpiano.org. Blessings of Harmony, Shoshannah Sarah
(13) Shoshannah Sarah, November 29, 2010 5:41 AM
I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your comments to my article. Many people have contacted me through others since they don't know how to reach me directly. You can email me at thehealingpiano@yahoo.com. My websites are thehealingpiano.org, therapythatheals.com, and myspace.com/shoshannahpiano. Blessings of Joy! Shoshannah
(12) rochelleah, September 14, 2006 3:33 AM
thanks for the article
thanks so much!! i'm sorry i missed you when you were here. keep up the awesome work!!! and when is your next album coming out? have you heard my son yossi's album. you'd love it!! it's called 'a time and place' by yossi and rocky. all the best prayers for a shanna tova umetuka! how blessed you are to be in eretz ha kodesh!!!!!love, rochel leah
(11) Carolyn Gough, July 14, 2006 12:00 AM
music therapy
Would like to get more info about Shoshannahs method of teaching. I have a 13 year old grandchild who is diagnose ADHD and mentally retarded. She loves music and I know that she can be helped if someone only knew how!
(10) Anat, July 13, 2006 12:00 AM
Inspiring
Your article has inspired me to explore the creative possibilities that lie dormant within me. Like many people, I had a bad experiece with a piano teacher who did everything "by the book." It was SO stifling! More teachers should adopt your approach--that would mean not taking the easy way out with their students.Thank you for being a source of encouragement, and may you continue to ignite the flame in each Jewish soul you encounter.
(9) zk, July 11, 2006 12:00 AM
I wish...
I've always wished I could use music to express myself and... fly! My brothers are wonderful musicians & both compose, but I wouldn't know where to begin! I wonder if the authors of these articles ever read the comments... I would love some advice on how to begin a thing like that late in life.
(8) Haroldo Goldfarb, July 10, 2006 12:00 AM
To Shoshannah Sarah
Dear Shoshannah
I was so glad to read your article, and particulary,I identify with it.
I am one of those who had contact with those teacher`s who certainly you know well{bli lashon hará},but Baruch Hashem
,nowadays with effort I have build up a beautiful story that I want to tell,mainly with an intention to estimulate those people who have music as a God Given Mission or a feeling that they can´t live without this art.
I´m a pianist from Brazil ,dedicated to Popular Music in general,with 25 years of career.I played with various importants artists from Brazil and also accompany Rabanim on cerimonys ,played on Bar- Mitzvot and Chatunot.I have works realised on Japan and rewarded on Brazil.
I also work with adults,who wants to bring music into their lives,playing,singing or performing.
The work you do,more than a work is a Mitzvá,and I desire to yo many and many years of accomplishment and Nahat.
Shalom
Haroldo Goldfarb {Brazil}
(7) Jewel Atkins, July 10, 2006 12:00 AM
A beautiful experience!
It is so wonderful reading this. I have a new adult piano student who has wanted to learn her whole life how to play. The first thing I noticed about her is that she lacks confidence. She was worried that if she didn't make a certain amount of progress within a certain time frame I would "fire" her. Instead, I told her that what and how she learns was going to take time, and not to sweat the big picture. She is a wonderfully gifted photographer, and I am trying to tap into this aspect in our lessons together. I tell her that she has a point of view when she photographs nature, and that music is the missing part of her photograph. She seems to be building her confidence more, and I hope we have many years together.
(6) Anonymous, July 10, 2006 12:00 AM
Shoshanna Sarah taught my children piano
Years ago, for a few weeks, Shoshanna Sarah taught my children piano. I will never forget hearing a beautiful piece of music and walking in to find my 10 year old daughter improvising!
(5) Sarah, July 10, 2006 12:00 AM
Those children whom you teach are indeed blessed! You combine all your G-d given talents to provide them with tools that will accompany them all their life.
I hope you teach adults as well. At any age one can benefit from your truly remarkable way of teaching!
(4) Tova, July 9, 2006 12:00 AM
Amazing!
what a lovely gift to all of us to be able to actually create music, to allow our soul to speak through beautiful music. Thank you for this amazing article.
(3) Leah Angerman, July 9, 2006 12:00 AM
Thank you for a beautiful understanding of how to see spirituality in creativity. I think it's amazing that you give each student this self worth and acceptance.
(2) Nora, July 9, 2006 12:00 AM
A remarkable positive article.
These are highly valuable concpts in children education. If every teacher -not only of artistic creative matters-
could transmit these apparently simple ideas, children would grow up creative, happier and inner God believers. Much less Psychoanalisis would be needed!
(1) Yocheved, July 9, 2006 12:00 AM
So cute!
This article as so cute and so well written. i like how it had that whole element of music healing... its all so true.