Personal Narrative

The piano in “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan is a vital symbol to the story. The piano was first introduced when June and her mother were watching television. The narrator illustrated that the piano music on the television, “…was being pounded out by a little Chinese girl, about nine years old, with a Peter Pan haircut” (Tan 384). This closely resembles the description of June, and most importantly, the mother seemed to judges the girl has harshly as she did to June. This is evident when June argued, “maybe she’s not the best, but she’s trying hard” (Tan 385). The mother bluntly responded to Amy, “just like you” (385). Therefore, it was almost as if the mother not only wants Amy to be like the girl on the television playing the piano, but even grander.

sat down at a piano, having never studied, with little exposure to piano music in her lifetime,

began to play the piano as a child his mom played that piano as well.

In The Piano Lesson, by August Wilson, Berniece struggles with her personal connection with the piano. Her families past reveal her relationship with the piano. The piano meant a lot of things to a lot of different people over the years. The piano is a complex and multilayers symbol; its meanings are both personal and political. For example, Berniece was affected by the piano positively and negatively. She had a sentimental connection with it and never wanted to get rid of it. But the piano had a lot of history behind it and it also carries a lot of meaning to it. Berniece stopped playing the piano for a while because of all the spirits inside of it and how they started to haunt other people. Berniece saw Boy Willie getting attacked by Sutter’s ghost and that made her realize she needs to let go of the past and play the piano again. But what was ironic is that she tried her best to forget the family history that came with the piano, she can never let go of her families past no matter what she does. This reveals that people should come to good terms with their past and learn to overcome it.

even bought him a trap set to practice on. When he decided to take up the piano, his

Throughout his life, my father never charged a penny for his services; instead he lined his pockets with smiles, grateful he had a pleasurable gift he could share with others. It was his way of contributing to his close-knit community. His piano was his lifeline, and his one true love--next to my mother, of

As an adult, Jing-mei’s mother offers her the piano once more, and Jing-mei accepts the gift. Appreciating the encouragement and faith her mother bestows upon her Jing-mei decides to care for the piano. The piano piece

The Piano Lesson is a play by August Wilson set in Pittsburgh in the 1930s. The play focuses on a piano owned by the Charles family. The piano is currently in Bernice’s house until her brother Boy Willie comes into town and tells her about the plan he has to sell the piano. This plan causes Boy Willie and Bernice’s true feelings about the piano to come to light. Through this disagreement about the piano it is revealed that Boy Willie and Bernice have conflicting views about whether the piano represents family or wealth.

The Piano Lesson is a Southern Gothic play in which the living, as well as the dead, have a strong connection to the piano. The piano has a tragic origin that dates back generations. The piano was originally obtained by Robert Sutter who traded slaves for the instrument because he could not afford to purchase it outright. The piano was meant to be a gift for his wife, who coincidentally grew weary of the instrument and began to miss her slaves. In an attempt to quell her depression, Robert Sutter commissioned that the slaves' portraits be engraved in the piano; in addition to the slaves that were traded, the woodcarver also included their families and family histories. Because of the ties to slavery between the piano, the Sutters, and the Charles family, Berniece and Boy Charles came to believe that as long as the Sutters owned the piano, they would continue to own the Charles'. Due to this belief, the Charles' become obsessed with obtaining and owning the piano. During the course of trying to get the piano from the Sutters, the Charles' sacrificed much of themselves and caused many deaths.

However, the daughter would not, and she got into a fight with her mother. Once the narrator turned thirty her mother offered her the piano as a present. The piano symbolizes forgiveness of the bitter argument that the mother and daughter had years

From there, the doctors place valve mask on my face for inducing oxygen to reach my lungs. For the rest of the day, I spent resting in my room with only food and water to fill my daily necessities. I could feel my parent’s sadness come all over me like a blanket. They were aggravated because my computer teacher didn’t send me to the nurse’s office when I needed help, and they wanted to sue the school. Then one of the doctors came in and told me that I was going to have to rest for a few days in order regulate my oxygen

As the first in the family to even play an instrument, playing piano was a challenge for me when I first started in my kindergarten days at six years old. Thought it was tough and not as enjoyable as I liked it to be, playing piano grew on me. It started to be fun and entertaining, so much that I ditched my favorite Lego Knights to play piano when I had the chance. One day I got to see world-class pianist Lang Lang perform. I saw him playing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It was truly a spectacle. He was in the front of the stage with a whole orchestra

Berniece carries on this tradition and polishes the piano to keep it in the best condition possible, recognizing how hard past generations worked to make the piano into what it is today. While explaining the piano’s history and addressing the problem over who has the right to possess the piano, Doaker says, “Now, that’s how all that got started and that’s why we say Berniece ain’t gonna sell that piano. Cause her daddy died over it.” (46) The main reason for her family history being connected to the piano is that Berniece’s father was killed in the process of regaining possession of the beloved piano. This elevates the role of the piano in Berniece’s life because it is the last thing her father had a connection to, and since he died over it, he too must have thought it was a very important item. Overall, Berniece recognizes that her family worked hard and made large sacrifices to get the piano to where it is

A mastered art started with a desire to learn. The art of playing the piano has been around for years. Famous men, like Mozart and Beethoven, were born before the 1800’s, but still influence current generations to play their piano scripts. The original methods of playing may have changed, but piano is still a thriving art. It even has different genres, some coming from the Jazz Era while others originating from the Victorian Era. Learning the art may take time, but with a strong desire to learn, a method of practice and a dedication of time, the greatest pieces can be mastered.

In my opinion, it’s wonderful to have something or someone to rely on when you’re not having an okay day. That’s what the piano has been to me these past six years. The piano is an escape for me and a beautiful and sentimental way I become closer to