Dawn arrives at about 7 a.m. in the early fall in the Catskills. I'm usually up by 5 a.m. I down a couple of cups of coffee and then I'm usually ready to start my day with a 45 minute set of classical piano practice. I've been working on this Bach Two Part Invention:
A tough piece. Left and right hands play different melodic lines. Why do this?
It's certainly not because of ambition.
No, I'm creating a sense of order in my day by accomplishing something from the start. In retirement, it's so easy to drift away into purposelessness.
There are probably good mental health reasons for continuing my classical piano routine. Keeps the mind alive. Like everybody else, I live in fear of the onset of Alzheimer's. Playing classical music is powerful mental exercise.
And, I just love the music. Bach is beautiful and lyrical.
Playing classical music, and conquering the technical challenges the music presents, just makes me feel good. The arthritis in my hands disappears. Classical music is yoga for my hands. My mind clears and all the BS racket vanishes.
And, I'm ready for breakfast and a 15 mile bicycle ride.
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