I grew up in the Middle East, so there are some cultural songs, well,

or Persian songs that very immediately bring sense of like family and home and grandparents,

just kind of that environment.

That's a Saul Habibi, a classically trained pianist.

She still remembers taking her first music lesson back in Iran when she was just five years

old.

The neighbor had a piano and I was just fascinated by this box that made sound.

And it just really kind of consumed me in a way of like I found myself very connected

to my emotional space, just playing piano.

Sitting behind the piano keys, a Saul could immerse herself in Mozart, concertos, and

Chopin, nocturnes.

Growing up in the 1980s in Tehran during the Iran-Araq War, daily life outside the practice

room was unpredictable.

Your environment is very chaotic when you live in that environment.

There is just very much of unpredictability to where many days that school was closed

and things didn't happen as usual.

During this time, music brought her a sense of comfort and continuity.

I think my piano provided that stability.

That every time I went there and practiced, like the things were the same and it provided

sort of a safe space in a way that helped me regulate my emotions and find ways to respond

to the stressors of the environment.

Here's the thing.

...