For the longest time, I carried around this feeling that I wasn’t a “real” composer.
Nearly 10 years ago a professor told me I should quit music because I couldn’t play the piano.
And that comment really stuck with me.
Not just for a few weeks or months—it followed me for years, lingering in the background, making me question if I actually belonged in music…
I kept thinking,
“Maybe if I accomplish enough, I’ll finally feel like a true composer.”
So, I went all in.
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âś… Took every music class I could as an undergrad
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âś… Earned a Berklee Online certificate
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✅ Went on to complete a Master’s degree with ThinkSpace
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âś… Even started getting paid to write music
But even then, that feeling of “not enough” was always there, sneaking in whenever I hit a new milestone.
When would I stop feeling like an imposter?!
In my latest video, I open up about why, almost a decade later, I’m finally starting to learn piano.
But what I didn’t go into is how, in a strange way, that professor’s comment also pushed me forward.
Rather than quitting music, I doubled down. It drove me to study harder, go deeper, and even become a teacher myself.
The difference is, when I teach, I want to make sure to inspire my students—to encourage them to follow their own paths in music, not just some ideal of what “should” be.
Looking back, I realized that professor never actually asked me what I wanted to do with music.
She never asked about my goals or even why I was learning the piano.
She didn’t take the time to get to know me as a musician, and because of that, her judgment felt more like a dismissal than actual guidance…
That experience taught me how important it is to truly understand a composer’s goals and strengths—not just to offer advice, but to give guidance that actually aligns with their vision.
That’s why I created my Composer Strengths Clarity Session.
It’s a chance for us to dive into where you’re at, what’s holding you back, and how to move forward in a way that fits your unique journey.
(I’m excited to help!)
But the way I see it now, that experience shaped me (painfully) in ways that motivated me to grow.
The truth is, experiences like these can shape us for better or worse, but in the end, what really matters is how we respond.
What we do with those experiences matters more than the experiences themselves.
So here I am (almost a decade later) finally learning piano.
But this time I’m not learning it to prove myself to anyone, not even to myself.
I’m doing it because I want to deepen the existing connection I already have with the music I create and hopefully explore a new side of my own creativity!
And honestly, I’ve never been more excited to finally start.
I know I’m not alone in managing self-doubt. We all pick up these comments along the way, letting them shape how we see ourselves.
But I’m realizing our worth isn’t defined by anyone else’s opinion.
It’s about the music we create, the risks we take to grow, and the journey we choose to make our own!
If there’s anything I hope you take from this, it’s that no one’s opinion should define your worth or limit your potential.
We can choose how we respond, and if we’re willing to learn from these moments, we can turn them into something meaningful!
Definitely make sure you check out my full video below! 👇
