Listening to the radio yesterday I heard DJ Fearne Cotton say she wished she could sing like Jessie J for a day, just to see what it is like, and that set me thinking.
If I could choose one skill, what would it be? To sing like Jessie J? To play tennis like Serena Williams? To drive a Formula One car like a champion? To cook like Raymond Blanc? To fly a plane? One can argue that we can all learn these skills, but most of them take time, money – not to mention a degree of talent or at least aptitude! I would like a ‘cheat’ day where I woke able to do something as an expert, not a novice, with no effort on my part!
My chosen skill would be to play the piano. Well actually a bit more than that… to be able to play Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 as well as any concert pianist and to be able to play jazz improvisations equally well. Not much to ask really!
As I child I didn’t have piano lessons and it wasn’t until my 40s that I decided to try and teach myself. I was able to use a friend’s piano (although he refused – wisely – to teach me), and spent many Saturday mornings practising the William Tell Overture and sundry other ‘simple’ pieces. If my friend was in the house while I practised I would occasionally hear a distant shout of ‘Count!!” as he endured my wimpish efforts. I am not naturally a patient person, and I used to get frustrated that I couldn’t just PLAY! Which is why it would be such a treat to have a day when my fingers would automatically and beautifully play wonderful piano music. Needless to say I gave up and can’t play at all.
If anyone else reads this blog, I’d be really interested to know what your ‘secret’ skill wish would be.
ALIVE AND CREAKING 