Ever been told you’re not good enough for something you love?

At age 10, my piano teacher told me to quit and go play sports. It wasn’t surprising, given that traditional music education has always had a ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ way to play—and I kept trying to break those boundaries. While I became skilled at reading classical scores, I never had the opportunity to improvise, compose, or express myself freely on the piano. Such freedom was often reserved for ‘the talented’ or those headed to jazz conservatories. Because I was told I lacked talent, I nearly gave up on the piano altogether.