For the Love of Music
Classical Pianist, Chemistry Major and Former Miss Indian, New Mexico by Renata Yazzie
Yá’ át’ ééh, shí éí Renata Yazzie yinishyé. Tó’aheedlíinii nishłií, Kinyaa’ áanii bashishchiin. Bit’ahnii dashichei, Honagháanii dashinálí.
G
reetings, my name is Renata Yazzie and I am a Diné woman, attending the University of New Mexico, majoring in chemistry and minoring in music and health, medicine and human values. In addition, I am a classical pianist. As soon as I could walk, I would toddle over to the piano bench, climb up and serenade my parents, as they got ready for the day. I adored music and my mother played piano. She taught me until I was 4 years
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The American Indian Graduate
old. While most children my age were learning to read English, I was also learning to read musical notation. I began taking formal lessons at age 4, studying in the Suzuki Piano Program, until I was 10, with Mrs. Louise Hill of Flagstaff, Arizona. I played my first piano competition, held at Northern Arizona University, when I was 8 years old, placing first in both the elementary solo and concerto divisions. Even as a young child, I loved music, I loved to play and, although I disliked performing in public, piano and music served as a creative outlet for me to express myself where words failed. I immensely enjoyed playing and I faithfully practiced every day. I also grew up listening to