Finding My Own Rhythm

This week, I had breakfast with a few friends who are professional musicians. As often happens when we get together, conversation wandered between work and life, and eventually landed on the shared experiences of music, learning music, and teaching music.

When I was about seven, my friend started piano lessons, and from that moment, I wanted to learn too. My mother used some inheritance money to buy us a beautifully restored upright piano. It was a magical piece of history in our home - you could still see where it once had candelabras! But it had a gleaming white new keyboard that played so effortlessly. We set it up in a room with wooden floors, and I loved how the vibrations of each note reverberated through the whole room.

I was given a special school pass on Thursdays to leave during lunchtime and walk to my piano teacher’s house. Her piano lived in the basement, sharing space with a giant model train set and a tank of tropical fish. My teacher was kind, with long grey hair wrapped into an immaculate bun. She taught me to read music, assigned me weekly theory homework, and patiently led me through scales and pieces, book by book. I loved the feeling of progress — learning new notes, tackling more complex music — and I felt extra special because so few children at our school studied music.

That said, I hated exams. Months of practicing the same piece, only for it to never be perfect enough. Scales, sight-reading, and aural skills were even worse. I took lessons for about seven years. I loved music but grew increasingly frustrated that I couldn’t play as well as I wanted. In high school, music became even more of a challenge. After a string of teachers quit, our class was shifted to distance learning. Trying to catch up on a whole term of material proved overwhelming. I don’t think I ever completed enough to pass. It was disheartening because I excelled at most other subjects. Music was the one thing I wanted so badly to be good at, yet I knew I lacked that certain spark it takes to be exceptional.

Still, I kept playing. I picked up violin and guitar, joined bands, orchestras, and choirs. These experiences were important because even though I wasn't playing anything interesting on my own, together we made a wonderful sound. I met students from other schools, performed in amazing venues, and discovered the joy of creating something collectively.

Later, as an adult, I began dance. All those years of rhythm, coordination, and musicality paid off — just in a different medium. I’m not a professional dancer, but I’ve found my creative outlet. I’ve found my way of being musical.

Now, I no longer feel jealous when I sit with my musician friends. Of course, I admire their talent, but I understand that was never my path. I also see the reality of their work: the irregular hours, the financial instability, the teaching roles many take on just to make ends meet — often far removed from their original passion, but always enough to keep them going.

During these breakfast conversations we got talking about parents who insist their children achieve professional-level proficiency, even when those children have no intention of pursuing music beyond school. We reflected on this — why the pressure? We agreed: it’s wonderful for children to learn music, to build discipline, rhythm, coordination, and an appreciation for the art. But there’s no need to reach a specific grade or standard unless it truly brings joy. Even for the most talented, the life of a professional musician is rarely a glamorous one.

Many educators lament the steady defunding of the arts, especially in public schools. In the private schools of Dubai, provision for music education varies greatly. Most schools include music in the primary years, often with dedicated rooms and specialist teachers. In secondary school, it’s typically offered as an elective, with options for instrumental or vocal lessons through in-house or visiting teachers. Some schools have choirs, bands, and orchestras. A few even stage full-scale musical productions, giving students experience not just on stage but in set design, costumes, sound and lighting. If music is important to your child — or your family — it’s worth carefully researching schools to ensure they offer a rich environment where students can stretch their skills and explore new opportunities.

To find a school where your child’s musical ambitions can thrive, reach out to us at Navigate.Ed. We’d love to help you find the right environment to nurture their talents — whatever form their creativity takes.