Who Inspires Me

On July 3d 2022, I was finally able to see and hear Ludovico Einaudi live in Place-Des-Arts. I am saying ‘finally’ because it has been 10 years (or even more) since I first heard him on one of the Social Media platforms. I am pretty sure it was actually my sister, Poli, who first discovered his music online and learned to play his Nuvole Bianche on the piano at home. I personally believe that his minimalistic approach in music resonates with my minimalistic approach in life while inspiring me to be content with the non-materialistic. 

Ludovico finds inspiration in folk music, the sounds of nature, the cycle of life, and calmness. Indeed, his albums bear titles such as ‘Underwater’, ‘Seven Days Walking’, ‘Elements’, ‘In a Time Lapse’. In the end, I find calmness and courage being in the nature, being united with the elements, when walking, at times with someone I love, and often just on my own. It is in the nature that I find my creativity. It is in the nature that I find calmness. 

Ludovico composes music mainly for the piano, cello, and violin. I would say that these are my top favourite instruments — they make me feel elevated. They make me feel as if I am being suspended in the air in a blissful nirvana state. They make me feel that in the end happiness is all about finding joy in smaller things. I am not saying I do not find joy in materialistic objects. In the end, even smaller objects that I love (books, kitchen utensils, Spotify subscription ….) are paid for. To me, it is all about being content with less. 

Ludovico started composing in his mid-twenties and is 66 years old now. During his concert he was playing the piano for two hours straight, occasionally turning around to face the audience to bow.  He truly just l.o.v.e.s the piano and the pure sound of it. You can somehow feel it in the way he touches the instrument. Ludovico emanates the feeling of humility and courage. Personally, I think these are the signs of true passion for one’s vocation. 

I cannot and do not want to so explicitly compare myself with the Genius, but it makes me feel grateful to think I also find passion in my vocation, i.e. teaching. Even during the darkest times, I found pleasure in teaching. It made me appreciate my Work even more. I want to think that I will continue teaching even in my late sixties and will find joy in learning more languages and discovering new ways of composing my lessons like Ludovico composes his music, always exploring something new while keeping it minimalistic.