The Question That Started It All
Before you read, take a moment to press play — this little piano piece sets the tone for the story.
A little bird is singing in the yard. It’s Tuesday afternoon in Marseille. I’m sitting in the living room of my typical Marseille apartment, its floor covered with the famous tomette tiles, preparing for the 3 p.m. lesson. Sunlight dances gently on the mango and avocado leaves — two significant plants standing proudly next to the piano.
The doorbell rings, and my student arrives, smiling, full of energy, ready to play what she practiced during the week. She loves her music and enjoys playing it better and better. Her curiosity fuels our lessons — she’s the dream student, you know, eager to learn, always full of questions. Every new piece of information, every small improvement lights up her face.
At the beginning of the lesson, she tells me with a little giggle that she always plays better when no one is listening. It’s not so easy to perform, even the simplest music. I completely understand her; it wasn’t easy for me either at the beginning. It became better when I had my first job as a cocktail pianist aboard a cruise ship.
Then she looks at me, asking:
“Why did you start playing on cruise ships? Why did you leave your home country?”
You know those moments when time stops, and you suddenly don’t know what to say? That was one of them. Because… how could I possibly answer in a few sentences?
I hadn’t thought about it for a long, long time. It was like opening a dusty drawer in the attic of an old house — a drawer filled with souvenirs, photos, little objects, melodies, a total mess. Like a 1000-piece puzzle.
I stared at her, wide-eyed, took a deep breath, and finally answered: “Excellent question. Well… it all started with a desperate moment.”
The lesson went on — we played, we learned, we laughed. She left, but her question stayed. I realized: it had been a long journey — one not only of distance, but of identity, risk, and transformation.
Now, I enjoy the sunshine in my living room, and sometimes, I walk down to the beach in this wonderful town. Back then, I lived on the sea, and from time to time, I visited land. Settled now; always on the move then. What a contrast!
Why did I leave the well-known for the unknown? It’s a story I’ve carried for a long time. Now feels like the right moment to unfold it — for you, and for me. Let’s open that old drawer together and look at the souvenirs with more experienced eyes. Let’s solve the 1000-piece puzzle and see the picture.
My student’s question brought me back to the beginning of it all. One moment, one decision that changed the entire curve of my life.
At that time, I was a piano teacher in Hungary, holding a freshly obtained Master’s degree in piano performance and teaching. I gave lessons in a music school, but played less and less. I had lost my motivation to practice. The daily struggle of earning a living clouded every day. I felt a growing gap between what I had been preparing for during my studies and what I was actually doing.
I couldn’t see where that path was leading. Everything felt uncertain and heavy, and I knew I had to change something radically. That was the day I found an agency looking for pianists for cruise ship contracts.
Needless to say, I knew nothing about cruise ships or cocktail pianists. I didn’t know what repertoire I was supposed to play, how the job worked, what mattered most. And, I knew I got motion sickness even in cars and buses! Imagining myself on a ship seemed… surreal.
And yet, somehow, I thought: “It can’t be worse than this.” I closed my eyes and jumped. I sent my application to the agency. My life changed on that cloudy day. It was the beginning of a brand-new chapter.
This blog post is only the first of a series of 10 short stories. Dear reader, come along with me — from the avocado and mango plants to another piano bench — one floating on the sea, aboard a cruise ship. Let me tell you a story of crossing countries, changing repertoire, and moving through life’s chapters.
Sometimes, the biggest questions arrive quietly, with sunshine on your face and a piano nearby.
If you enjoyed this story, stay tuned for the next chapter!
Source of Music 