Rebecca Pang playing piano in her Vancouver home.Anya Chibis
Vancouver-based financial professional Rebecca Pang first learned how to play the piano as a kid in her hometown of Hong Kong. But as she grew up, she fell out of practice. In 2007, Pang moved to Canada. Then, 12 years later, she rehomed a free piano that a neighbour was giving away and picked up the pastime again.
In this series, Reimagining Wealth, we explore the evolving definition of wealth in today’s world. We meet Canadians who are thinking beyond traditional measures of success to maximize happiness and well-being. Here is Ms. Pang on how she rekindled her passion for an old hobby and the gratification she gets from making music at home.
Why did you first learn how to play the piano?
I grew up in Hong Kong. Many of my friends and classmates played the piano. It was a staple of life, like learning to play hockey in Canada.
I was quite rigorous in practising, but I was very robotic with it. I didn’t really have musicality or a passion for playing. I was very exam-oriented. I practised and studied for the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) exams. I studied piano from the ages of eight to sixteen. After I earned an RCM Level 10, I felt like I needed to focus my efforts on school. Piano fell out of my life after that.
What prompted you to get reacquainted with piano as an adult?
I moved to Canada in 2007 after meeting my husband and we settled in Toronto. In 2019, a neighbour who lived three houses down the street was moving and giving away a very old piano for free.
Sometimes, things show up in life and you take it as a message from the universe. I played a little bit after that, maybe two hours a month at most. But it wasn’t until the pandemic that I started playing a lot more often.
What changed during the pandemic?
We were at home and had so much more time on our hands. The piano was right next to where I set up my home office, so I decided to try and play something every day, usually after lunch, even if it was just briefly. I appreciated the piano more during that time. I know this sounds a little cliché, but when we all felt frustrated and helpless with the uncertainty, playing the piano helped me find inner peace.
I felt like I was able to send emotions out through the piano. When I was frustrated, I might play Beethoven’s “Pathétique” [Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13], which is a very high-energy song. After playing that song, I felt like the negative energy went away.
There are also certain songs that I would play and feel teleported to another place, like a rainy environment or a peaceful lake. Music can give you a different perspective and take your mind away for a moment. Then, you come back with more peace of mind.
Does playing piano as an adult feel different from when you studied it as a kid?
It feels less like I’m playing for proficiency. Now I can play whatever suits my mood. I can play the same pieces again and again or learn something new. I can just let it flow. It’s definitely more enjoyable for me.
Some people might think: ‘Oh, I’m too old to learn this,’ but it feels very refreshing to relearn piano. There’s satisfaction in learning new pieces. I used to play mostly classical pieces but now I’m learning some pop songs for fun, like music from Studio Ghibli films and songs from Coldplay and Adele.
Are you still playing on the same piano?
In 2021, I decided to upgrade. The free piano was very old and rundown. I felt like it was doing a disservice to some of the classical pieces I loved. So, I did some research and ordered a new hybrid piano. It has hammers but the sound comes from a sensor, instead of strings. It’s more versatile since I can plug in headphones to play.
I had to wait nine months for the hybrid piano to arrive because of supply chain issues. Then, in the fall of 2024, I got a great job opportunity in Vancouver so my family relocated. We were moving from a house to a condo, so we had to be selective about what to bring, but I knew I wanted to take my piano. For me, it’s been like an anchor while I navigate a new city.
