The Piano Man

Growing up, you probably had to memorize speeches, algebra equations, and the Pledge of Allegience. As adults, may of us probably try to avoid that kind of work, but John Walker of Brookings chooses to spend his free time memorizing masterpieces.
As the director of keyboard studies at South Dakota State University, most of his time is spent in the classroom. But when other teachers leave campus for their homes, Walker stays late, spending an extra hour each day working towards a dream few piano players try.
He is performing all 32 of Beethoven’s sonatas—from memory.
“It’s really the big goal of a lot of pianists to do this,” says Walker. “I think the only worry is, will I still like it? And so far I do.”
He spends six months learning, practicing, and committing to memory the works of one of music's greatest masters. Twice a year, Walker performs what he's perfected for the public. And for him, each concert wears him out.
“The brain gets really tired of concentrating in front of people after a certain amount of time," says Walker. "I’m exhausted afterward. I just want to eat a full meal.”
And while he's passionate about his work, Walker knows some people might question his sanity.
“My wife is a pianist, so she doesn’t think I’m crazy…Oh, wait—that’s the reason she does," Walkers says, laughing.
What will he do when his five year project is finally over?
“I’m not going to Disneyland, but I’ll do something like that," says Walker. "Maybe I'll go to a ballgame--just, something different.”
But with just seven sonatas down and 25 more to go, Walker has plenty of time to figure out what that something will be.