Step 1: Finding the Right Songs that Connect

Before I even considered walking into the hospital to play the piano, I was hit with one big question: "What should I even play?"

It may seem like a small decision, but to me, it felt like everything. Music is powerful, but the right choice of music is even more powerful. I wanted the songs I chose to feel familiar and warm, especially in places where people might be going through tough times.

What makes a song right?

For me personally, the "perfect" song isn't about difficulty or technicality. It's about how it makes the listeners feel. Something that won't overwhelm a quiet room but still brings life to it. To find the perfect song, I had to keep my target audience in mind, which was mainly Thai and elderly people. Since I wasn't sure what kinds of music would help me connect with my elderly listeners, I decided to ask my parents to see if they had any good Thai song suggestions that would help me resonate with the audience. Without any hesitation, they recommended two: "Season Change" (or ฤดูที่แตกต่าง) and "Meuan Koey" (or เหมือนเคย). At first, the names didn't mean much to me; I had never heard of them before. But as I listened and started learning the melodies, I began to understand why they were special. According to my parents, these songs carried so much emotion and nostalgia. Bringing them back to the times when they were my age in high school. Then, my dad smiled and said something that made me laugh; he used to play "Season Change" on the radio back when he was flirting with my mom in the car: it was one of "their songs". That moment made me realize even further that music doesn't just connect strangers: it preserves memories and carries stories.

Even though I grew up in a different time period than these songs, playing them made me feel instantly connected, not just to my parents, but also to the people I hoped to share this music with.

If you're curious and want to try playing these songs for yourself, I have inserted a picture of the music sheets that I personally used.

Before you dive in, remember, it's not about perfection; it's about connection. So when you make a mistake while playing (which you probably will, like I did), smile, and keep on going. The people listening won't remember the wrong notes; they'll remember how the music made them feel.

"Meuan Koey"(เหมือนเคย) Page: 1-2

"Meuan Koey"(เหมือนเคย) Page: 3-4

"Season Change"  (ฤดูที่แตกต่าง) Page 1-2

"Season Change"  (ฤดูที่แตกต่าง) Page: 3-4

In the next post, I'll be writing about my practice schedule and how I was able to maximize the number of songs I was able to play (up to 10 songs in 3 weeks).

Stay tuned.

-Team