Supporting Your Piano Pathway
Reflection by Andrew Eales
Since ancient times, the Chinese have followed the lunar calendar, New Year coinciding with the first hint of Spring in the northern hemisphere. New Year’s Eve 2025 falls on 28th January, which heralds the start of Spring Festival, culminating two weeks later with the Festival of Lanterns on February 12th.
The years are traditionally named after the twelve symbolic animals of the Chinese zodiac. These are multiplied by the ‘Five Elements’ of traditional Daoist cosmology to create a 60 year cycle. Following on from the Year of the Dragon, we are about to enter the Year of the Wood Snake.
Regardless of how we view ancient beliefs and customs, it does us no harm to reflect on our lives and progress using the cycle of the seasons and calendar of old traditions as a simple tool.
The Wisdom of the Snake
In his book The 12 Chinese Animals (2010), Daoist Master Zhongxian Wu writes,
“Snakes always move calmly and cautiously, and act very sharply and quickly once they snap up their prey. In the Chinese tradition, Snake is a symbol for wisdom, caution, intuition, attraction, intelligence, and mysticism.”
When applied to the individual born in the Year of the Snake, we might probe for signs of these characteristics, but how could they manifest when applied, rather more abstractly, to a calendar year?
Susan Levitt and Jean Tang suggest, in their book Taoist Astrology (1997),
“The Year of the Serpent is a time of introspection, planning, and seeking answers. People will ponder and think before they act. Good taste and elegance will prevail in fashion, theatre, film, and all the arts. Serpent wisdom influences contributions in the sciences through new technological inventions and discoveries. But this is not an auspicious year for gambling, investing, or taking any financial risks, because the calamities of the previous Dragon Year can continue into Serpent Year. Expect political extremes, scandals, and the exposing of secrets.”
So far, so prescient (and how fascinating that this was written more than a quarter of a century ago).
But what might this all mean for our piano playing? A key message we might take from the image of the Snake is that of wise preparedness.
Let’s practice!
Our “time of introspection, planning, and seeking answers” largely takes place in the practice room, and through our efforts to learn privately and from others.
Here’s a few basic tips:
- Listen Carefully
It helps us in every way to develop our listening. When paying attention to the advice we are given, and when attentively listening to the performances and recordings of other players, let us do our best to learn as much as possible. - Return to the Core
Let’s remember the value and benefits of playing scales, honing technique, learning chords, embracing music theory, and researching the music we play. Like the sprung, muscular coil of the snake, they empower us to strike our musical target. - Cultivate Good Relationships
Let’s be circumspect in our choice of company. With caution, intuition, and care, let’s recognise those who truly support us, and reciprocate in equal measure. This could be a good time, both in real life and online, to focus on fewer but deeper relationships.
I find it interesting to consider from one year to another whether events, global and personal, as I have witnessed them and as they have been collectively experienced and reported, match some of the qualities foretold by the Chinese wisdom system.
But ultimately it is our beliefs, choices, and actions which shape our destiny, contributing to our personal and collective narrative. So let’s use our own best qualities and creative energy to make the world a better place in the coming months.
Happy Chinese New Year!
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