Music was a huge part of my childhood. I sang in the choir all throughout junior high and high school. My parents, children of the '60s, always had oldies playing both in the car and on the stereo at home. I also took piano lessons for 10 years. I played difficult pieces and had been in a few competitions in high school.
When we moved to Waco my junior year, I began taking lessons with a new instructor. I didn't like her nearly as much as my instuctor in Abilene so I stopped playing. Oh, if I could go back and talk some sense into my 17 year old self!
From college age on, my piano playing consisted of 5 minutes here or there when I was at home. My skills eventually faded and I had some difficulty even reading the notes at times.
Fast forward to the present. Matthew is going to begin taking lessons at Baylor starting next month. Bryon's parents graciously gave us their piano as we don't have an extra 20 grand sitting around to buy the piano we want! I went over to my parents house and brought home all of my old music. I found 10 of my favorite and most difficult pieces. The past week, I have decidated 30 minutes to an hour a day to work on relearning these pieces. I have been surprised at how much I have relearned these past few days. It is almost like my brain still remembers where my fingers should go!
My goal is to have these 10 pieces rememorized this year and even add some to my repertoire.
I am looking forward to Matthew starting lessons in a few weeks. I hope he gets as much enjoyment out of playing the piano as I have.
Had a thought.
17 hours ago
6 comments:
I love music, but can't play any instruments...can't even read music. My husband, on the other hand, played a few different instruments in middle/high school. His favorite being the piano. Our three-year-old son, Philip, is very musical. Brad is hoping to teach Philip one day...can you even imagine any sweeter sight?!
Good for you girl! That took a lot of discipline to throw yourself back into the piano. Sounds like you really enjoy it. I am not sure I would have the discipline to make myself practice.
I thought I was the only one who wanted to go back and talk sense into my childhood self. Playing the piano is just one of the things I wish I'd have stuck with. Congratulations for setting this goal, you'll have so much fun relearning!
I took piano for ten years, too! I was almost a music major at ACU, but my older brother was majoring in music and I saw what his life was like. (20-hour semesters and practicing all the time. No thanks!) So I decided to make the BIG bucks and get a journalism degree. HA! We got a piano a couple of years ago and it's amazing how much has come back to me. Oh -- Dr. P. and I took from the same teacher. I think he took for 11 years.
Deana,
I didn't know Dr.P took piano! I will have to talk to him about that. We ate dinner with them on Monday night after Blast off to Kindergarten. E and Matthew are friends at church.
How wonderful! I was trained operatically from a young age and though I sing with the church worship tema dn preformance ensemble, it has only been within the last year that I have experienced much the same sense of deep remembering and reconnection you describe.
How fabulous.
Post a Comment