The Paper Pianist

Lacking the money to buy a piano, 11-year-old Andrew Garrido created his own paper piano to practise on. It got him through his first five grades with distinction.

Now aged 21, the pianist and musician is in his third year at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has played venues across Europe.

The Paper Pianist

True / False

1. Andrew has been playing the piano for more than ten years.

2. Andrew's mum lost her job.

3. Andrew didn't have access to a computer.

4. After Andrew reached grade five, his mother bought him a real piano.

5. Andrew is not very far into his music course at Guildhall.

6. Andrew thinks a lot of the other students had it much easier than he did.

7. A paper piano is great, because you can't make a mistake.

8. Andrew feels that having learned in such a difficult way, means he's better able to cope with further difficulties in his career.

Discussion

1. Did you learn a musical instrument as a kid? Do you still play?

2. What skills besides musical skills do you get from studying music?

3. If you could play an instrument really, really well, which would it be?

4. What do you think Andrew is like as a person? What qualities does he have?

5. Do you have a burning passion that you would like to fulfil?

Prepositions

My name is Andrew Garrido. I'm an award-winning pianist and musician and fewer ____ 10 years ago I learned how to play the piano ____ pieces of paper. This is my paper piano - the third version that I drew. I started learning to play the piano on paper because my mum had just been made redundant and, lacking funds ____ afford an instrument or piano lessons, I went online and I drew a keyboard. So, I played on the piece of paper guided ____ sounds I was hearing ____ the computer. But after a while I just began to hear those notes ____ my head. I used the paper piano ________ grades 1 and grade 5 _____ which my mum saw my commitment, so she borrowed money from family and friends ____ pay for a keyboard that I could have _____ home. But I still had ____ continue to practice _____ real pianos, so often I would go round ____ local houses who had pianos, and I was allowed ____ practice for an hour or so a week ____ those, and I began a tour ____ practice rooms. I'm now ____ my third _____ four years _____ my current course _____ the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and I'm loving it. I'm __________ many people I think who have come _____ a more affluent background - I think it's fair to say - and it meant when they had the opportunity to study music they started very young, they studied _____ very fine instruments and very fine teachers, and it meant they were best placed to go ____ the opportunities that all of us were going ______... I made a mistake. I made a mistake on the paper piano - it's... you make mistakes! I don't think there's been ever a greater challenge _____ playing on pieces of paper. Looking _____, having done that, I'm quite ready to face any other challenges that come my way now. Never underestimate what you're able to do, and if you think you're _____ the limit of what you're able to do, try harder. You can always give more and you'll be surprised what you're able to achieve when you really search _______ yourself ____ that willpower, ____ that strength to achieve what you really really want to do.