I remember I was sitting by the comfortable couches outside the classroom while waiting for theory class to begin when I heard a melody in my head.
I felt this urge to write and so I pulled out my hand-dandy rhyming dictionary; found a few keywords, rhyming words, and started to write a few phrases.
I hummed a melody into the audio recorder on my phone. It’s been very useful to capture and save melody ideas that come to me out of nowhere.
The next day at home, I started to write the full lyrics, and while I don’t remember exact details of the thought process, I remember it all came together in just a few days.
I went to the piano, found the key I wanted to be in, and started to sing it and called the song, The Greatest Gift.
Writing The Song — “Greatest Gift”
You see, I had returned to study music at a local college wanting to do something meaningful for myself.
I had been living in a fog for a long time, and when the opportunity came up to save myself from this dark hole I had been trapped in, I took a risk and a chance to begin my healing journey.
I’ve always envied music students; the ones who really made it to higher education levels in music. It was quite exciting to experience it myself. I auditioned for the music diploma program and was successfully admitted.
But life always throws at us curveballs, doesn’t it?
I had been studying for a year when the unexpected news came.
It was Spring 2022. During Reading Week, the college announced that they were closing the music program. I will not be able to complete the diploma.
With one year left to go, I felt disappointed, defeated, and stuck.
I was upset.
I worked hard with my private teaching, and saved up funds on my own for this so I did not need to depend on anyone for my own goals.
I timed it in such away that when both my kids were in school full-time, I have the capacity to return to school and pursue my dream.
Most importantly, I did it because I was hungry to learn and I was looking for a way out of the dark.
I was very torn knowing the effort I had put into it, all of sudden it felt like it went down the drain.
Then came a bigger challenge — mustering the effort to rebut the college’s offer to continue my education elsewhere with additional perks.
While it seemed promising to many, the reality is that I’m not 19-years old with the capacity to move and study full-time at a university anymore. I have family commitments, a spouse with his career commitments, and school-going children.
My intention was to complete my studies here, and continue teaching, performing and composing.
Coupled with all the turmoil I was personally going through, it was also difficult for me to witness the pain my music instructors were going through.
Sadly, they are losing their jobs.
I’m a hard empath. I feel deeply for others’ pain; as if they are mine.
If you’re an empath, you will know what I’m talking about. It can be an amazing gift, but it can also be a curse.
I couldn’t imagine how hard it was for my music teachers to still show up every morning for work knowing that their life’s work is all going to come to an end in a few months’ time.
On top of this, they had been so supportive in helping the students navigate this difficult time, and providing mentorship and guidance selflessly.
Only a dedicated teacher, who is passionate and dedicated in what they do will go the extra mile.
No matter the time of the day
You’re always thinking of a way
To inspire, to teach, to let me dream
To make me feel I’m part of a team
There was a time I was afraid
each moment that I walked onto the stage
but you smiled and you told me you believed
in the strength that I can achieve
— Greatest Gift by Esther Ling
With everything that I was happening, and all that I was feeling … this was how the song was born.
I wrote it and performed it at our last student recital, as a gift to my wonderful teachers.
You gave me the greatest gift of my life
The love from your heart feels so alive
Thank you for the joy you bring
For teaching my heart to sing
Your love for music that you’ve set free
is the greatest gift to me
— Greatest Gift by Esther Ling
I don’t know about you, but every music teacher I have crossed paths with, and learned from, have been so special. I still can’t quite put to mind why or how.
Perhaps it is the connection we can share together in learning. Music in any form and in any environment, always brings people together.
Tell me, do you have a music teacher that has touched your life?
Now it’s time to say goodbye
the silence in the hallway makes you cry
yet you still give me a pat on the back
all the laughter and memories, we’ll never forget
— Greatest Gift by Esther Ling
Greatest Gift is available on all streaming platforms. Listen to the preview here.
All rights reserved. Words & Music by Esther Ling
Copyright 2024 Esther Ling Pianist
Comments