Thomas Edward

My name is Thomas. I am 44. I've been playing and performing in various groups since I was 16 years old. I started playing and writing when I was 4 years old. I have only ever had two full half hour lessons from a wonderful teacher at a local music store.

I do not know if she is still alive, as she was fairly elderly when I was 16 and took my first of two lessons. when I arrived 15 minutes early for a 3rd lesson, the teach stood outside the room with the door closed, and she didn't know it was me, but she was fascinated with what she had heard.

After about 12 minutes of me performing one of the songs I wrote at a much younger age meant for the harpsichord, she opened the door to no small astonishment.

She looked me up and down for a moment, and decided right then and there, to apparently be as honest with me as she could.

She said to me, "Mr. Rice, I'm not entirely certain why you are here. I heard you playing for the last 12 minutes. There isn't anything I can teach you that you can't already do. I would only be giving you the names to things you already have in your heart." I looked at her a little confused, as I still wanted to learn how to write and perform music just by looking at it, which to this day, I still can not do without much trial and error.

I let her know this, and she said, "Mr. Rice, I'll be honest, it won't be too long before someone comes up with a computer program that will allow you to simply perform something, and it will write out the notes for you to print out. Save your money. I do NOT want to ruin the obvious talent that is already inherent in you."

She sat next to me and put the sheet music books on the piano, and turned slightly to let me see her expression. She then looked up at me with those glasses on her nose, and said, "I guess we two are a little jealous of each other...you can't read the sheet music to perform, and I need sheet music to perform. You are a writer...I'm just a mimic. Sure, I give it my own take, or feel, or slant, but you...you create from nothing...or maybe from everything...inside you...from here." she said as she pointed at my heart.

She then pointed at my head and said, "Don't let this ruin it for you."

I picked up my things...thank her, although at the time I didn't really understand the reasons why she said these things...and left the practice room.

And here I am now.

Twenty six years later...was she right in believing in my that much?

Was she right in doubting her ability so much?

Maybe a little of both...or neither.

Only time will tell.

If anyone wants to grab some of these songs to help feed my software/hardware addiction, or to see any of the other work that I do as an artist, please go to these various places :

Other websites I can be found on:

outofnothing.bandcamp.com/album/synthe…he-away-void

outofnothing.bandcamp.com/album/out-of-nothing

fullcircle2.bandcamp.com/album/twilig…the-guardian

fullcircle2.bandcamp.com/album/matter-of-time

terice.weebly.com

syntheticcoralandtheawayvoid.weebly.com
black-ronin1228.deviantart.com/