A few months ago I had my first official music presentation after more years than I can count.

And I realized I needed this.

The first time I went to this piano meetup I just sat in the audience in silence. I chuckled when the host said every piano player was required to make at least one mistake or you’d be kicked out. I saw how players with different skill levels went on stage and played their hard-practiced pieces.

This group of piano enthusiasts gathered twice a month to play the piano. People from different ages and skill levels meet to share what they’ve been working on, regardless of how easy or difficult the piece was.

I admired how even those who were literally trembling on stage went through with it. I saw their hands shaking, which made playing even harder, but they kept going. In the face of fear, they chose to look it in the eye instead of retreating. That’s what courage really means. As Nelson Mandela once said,

I was pleasantly surprised by the support and patience shown by the audience. Whenever someone stopped playing saying they couldn’t carry on, the audience would cheer them up and encourage them to keep playing or try again from the beginning. They’ve all been through this stage fright, so empathy came as a natural response. Players felt it and kept playing.

Inspired by all this, and especially by the encouragement of my dear friend Kristen, I decided to play a music piece at the next event. I found this simple yet intricate music piece by Philip Glass called Opening from his album Glassworks.

But I wanted to do it differently.

I didn’t want to just play the piece and return to my seat. I wanted to share a couple of thoughts and show that music wasn’t just an aesthetic experience but much more.

The wisdom in between the notes

I want to share with you the video of my presentation but since it’s in Spanish, let me walk you through it before you see the video below.

For those of you who don’t know Spanish here’s my short speech (and you can skip to minute 2:13 in the video after you’ve read this):

That’s it! Was it too long?

Now that you’ve endured the speech, here’s the video of the presentation.

What’s in it for you?

Music shows us more about life and ourselves than the beauty of its melodies and harmonies. So what can you get out of this?

As we saw with other piano players, focus on conquering your fears. We’ve all been there, hesitating to take the stage, whether metaphorical or literally speaking. But remember, courage is not the absence of fear; it’s pushing through despite being afraid. Keep moving even when you’re scared.

For me, even if my hands were trembling and my voice was a little bit shaky, I went on. I didn’t let my nervousness get in the way of delivering my message. When I realized the message mattered more than my momentary discomfort, I found the strength to push through.

Taking that next step is much easier with someone cheering for you. The support and empathy shown by the audience when a performer stumbled make us realize the power of a supportive community. I had my friend by my side at the recital, and the audience’s kindness made it even better. They knew exactly what I was going through because they’d been there too. Having that kind of support made a difference.

Think of the times when someone’s encouragement helped you keep going, even when you wanted to give up. It’s in those moments that a supportive network becomes the wind that keeps you moving forward.

As I played those intertwining rhythms (2 against 3), I couldn’t help but see how our differences — like the contrasting notes — could come together to create something unexpectedly beautiful. This particular piece reminded me of the magic that happens when people with different backgrounds and perspectives find a way to harmonize.

Music showed me how two different rhythms can intertwine, and how I needed both high and low notes to create something that felt complete. Without unexpected turns or seemingly opposing beats, life would be predictable and rather boring, and nothing truly new would ever emerge.

So whether you’re a triplet or a duplet, talk to each other, find ways to harmonize those differences and you’ll be surprised by the melodies that will arise.

Music carries a deeper meaning when we care enough to listen. It can serve as a reminder that in your pursuit of your next endeavor, look for the deeper significance. Find purpose in what you’re doing, and it will give you the motivation to keep going.

Whether your next step is musical, professional, or personal, embrace the power of music to help you take that leap of faith.

Your next step could be the one that leads you to something extraordinary.