Nyatichi Mandi is 9 years old and a standard 5 pupil at Riara Road Primary School. She studies piano at The Kenya Conservatoire of Music

My parents introduced me to music by taking me for piano lessons at the Conservatoire of music in the year 2007.  Before that I had never studied any type of music except from the songs we learned in school for events such as concerts, sports days e.t.c. My lessons were every Saturday. As I continued studying the piano, I got so attached to it that I would go to the music room in our school to practice the pieces that my teacher Ms. Lola Akwabi gave me as homework.  I begun to play in school and at the Conservatoire. In school I participated in the Music Festivals, concerts e.t.c. In 2009, I did my ABRSM Prep Test exams and got a good review. In 2010 I participated in the Music Festivals held in Kisumu during the August holidays. I came fourth countrywide.

Sometimes it is very hard to think about piano and school work at the same time, but I somehow manage to do it. Then my dad suggested that I write a timetable so I can be doing certain things at certain times. Since then it has been easier to do my schoolwork and piano. The guitar somehow took hold of me and I suddenly wanted to play it. I begged my mum to let me try it, she said I could if I did my Grade one piano exams so I am really looking forward to do my grade 1 exams this year and then begin learning the guitar.

Playing the piano is fun. My teacher says that music is a language and when you play it you speak it. Sometimes I play the piano when I am bored. My mum says only boring people get bored so I try not to get bored, by doing something constructive. When it comes to music I have my inspirations. Some of them include my parents at the top of the list followed by Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross and Cece Winans. When it comes to piano and I am looking for any encouragement or help I count on my parents. My piano playing has really helped me by making me concentrate, sight reading, flexibility using my fingers and many more other things.

Piano is kind of difficult when you start but when you get used to it is very easy. Most people think it is so hard when they see people playing hard songs. They should maybe try it first because it is just all about rhythm, position and other things. This year I am definitely going to go higher in my practice of piano and I’ll do so much better. I am very sure of this because if any one else can do it, I can also do it even a little bit better.

Music is not only just a type of art like sketching, it is a language that is spoken using different instruments. I try and think of piano as something like Mathematics or English so it can make me continue doing it. Although piano is the thing I do most I try to find time to do my other favourite things like sketching, carving things like soap, drawing and reading.

The only people around me who can help me with anything or everything is my parents, relatives and teachers. Though most of all, my best friend and forever father who is always there for me and watches and guides me wherever I go is God. He is the only one who could have given me parents who work very hard who he has helped bring me this far. I will always thank God for giving me life, education, clothing, a special talent and best of all a heart that is pure and that belongs to him. And my piano, I don’t just learn it like that, I have to practice. My parents once told me that working hard is the only way to do or become what you want to be. You have to first stick to what you are doing and never give up until you get what you wanted and also you need to trust that God will help you and never have too much pride. That is how people get successful in life.