Music Lessons

Chapter one

Why is that when you sit down to practice your instrument, you end up playing all of your favorites over and over again and never even get to your lesson? I found that to be true, no matter what instrument I was practicing.

My first lessons were with the violin. I must have been in the fourth grade at North End Elementary school. I think my lessons only two months because I complained, constantly, of the uncomfortableness of resting my chin on the violin. My arms also grew tired of holding the violin up. So I decided to take piano lessons. Mr. Bates lived three houses up the street and taught piano lessons. [Come to think of it, he could probably hear me play through the open living room windows.] I remember having a recital with him at the Ford Chapel in Allegheny College. He asked me to play chopsticks with him and I did without a mistake. Two years later, I changed teachers and took lessons from Mrs. DeKrief. A friend of mine took piano lessons from her. She lived down a couple of other streets so I could ride my bike there - or walk in the winter. I think I took lessons for 2 or 3 more years before giving it up completely. I found it much more relaxing just playing my favorites.

In Jr high, I wanted to play the drums, so mom scheduled some lessons with Clark Barnes. But I ever had the chance to play real drums, just a little rubber pad. I did teach myself how to play an alto recorder and a guitar. Then I bought some bongo drums to tapping out rhythms. Over the years, I taught myself how to play jazz, boogie woogie and hymns. But mainly, the love of music has been passed down to the next generation.

Chapter two:
I have three children of my own. Amy, Michael and Sarah. Amy was born in 1983, Mike in 1985 and Sarah in 1990. When they were younger we would listen to cassette after cassette of kids music or musicals. (We did still sing acapella on occasion, too). One of their favorites was Jungle Jam. There were three tapes in that series. They would listen to the music over and over again - til they could sing it without the words in front of them.

The kids, under my direction, began singing in church - first in the preschool choirs, or at the elementary level and soon after, in the youth choirs. When Amy and Michale were in Elementary school, I directed six musicals at Central Christian Church in Lawrenceville, GA. They , of course, were the stars and had several lead roles. They could sing on key and didn't mind standing up in front of a crowd. It was great fun.Unfortunately, Sarah hasn't had those kinds of opportunities, except for dressing as a lamb once or twice for a Christmas program.

Amy had an awesome opportunity - twice actually - to sing in the children's choir in the Broadway musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) with the star, Sam Harris. She was even chosen to be on TV with Sam and five other children because she smiles all the time.

Having a piano at home has been a blessing. Both Amy and Sarah play the piano and can both play from memory - whereas I need the music in front of me. Amy joined the marching band in her senior year and played the cymbals during the parade and the bells (or chimes) for music programs at school. While in high school, Mike took trumpet lessons and then taught himself how to play the guitar. For his senior project he produced a CD - with 4 or 5 songs on it - with background music. When Sarah was in high school - she also learned how to play the guitar and then took an interest in the violin, which she now plays.

I'm sure their love for music will pass on down to the next generation. I know my grandchildren love the karaoke machine we got Alyssa for her birthday. They love to sing and dance to Hannah Montana music.

Sarah also played the flute in the 4th - 6th grade orchestra. And my stepdaughters (Alicia, Heather and Jen) are also musically inclined- all have sung in the high school choir.