Executive VP & Chief Legal Officer, Mckesson
Search every verified Michele Lau interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a 2022 interview, Michele Lau discussed her experience with focal dystonia, a condition she said she initially hid by telling others she had hurt her back. She described feeling "hopeless, alone and devastated" and stated that her recovery involved faith and surrendering ego. Lau also criticized aspects of classical music education, asserting that some teachers in prestigious institutions focus on status and use students to raise their own profile. Lau commented on the impact of social media, stating that metrics like likes and followers can become a "slippery slope" and that algorithms do not consider artistic factors. She said she deleted Facebook due to its weight and plans to revive Instagram and YouTube with content aimed at sharing knowledge. Lau advised those starting on social media to begin with fun and no expectations, and emphasized the importance of having an exit strategy, such as stepping back from playing for a few days without anxiety.
“I had focal dystonia — I had to take a gap year and tell everyone that I hurt my back because I had to hide it; it was so shameful. I felt hopeless, alone and devastated.”
“Your mind and your body are connected — sometimes western medicine treats only the body and that’s not going to work because your mind and body are connected.”
“There is a certain responsibility for a teacher to meet your student at the level they're at — yet in very prestigious places teachers sometimes focus on status and reputation, using students to raise their own profile.”
“Your worth is not something that can be quantitated — the number of likes, views and followers becomes a social badge and it can be a very slippery slope, especially in the classical music world.”
https://retraining-pianist.com - Retraining for Pianists, Mental Practice, Recovery from Playing-Related Injuries and Musician's Focal Dystonia. #focaldystonia #retrainingpianist #pianoinjuries
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