A Musical Family

Hello Reader. I would like to welcome you to this fun blog of music in my life and give you a little history of my life. When I was a little girl, I absolutely loved playing the piano. My Mama taught me everything I knew until I was about 11 years old. (My favorite song to play was “Down the Track there comes a Railroad Train”! ) I also loved to play softball and my sister, Myrna and I play on the “Beauties” team. I had great adventures on the farm where I grew up watching my father milk cows, bringing in the cows, gathering chicken eggs, walking tight rope style along the rod iron fence rails, taking imaginary trips in the closet “elevator” to magical lands where my sisters and I could talk to the sunflowers, putting on circuses and plays with my siblings and especially building huts and houses of all kinds out of tumble weeds, chopped down trees, old lumber with nails in it, etc. Myrna and I once cooked a meal of carrots and onions on an incinerator and we very often had adventures on top of the barn roof and hauling each other up and down in a rafter swing. Yes, those were the great days of dirt, mudpies, prickly heat (no AC at all) and any imaginary game we could dream up for us and our younger brothers and sisters.  There was no TV! Some of my sweet memories include my mother singing to my siblings when they were babies and of her teaching us some fun songs like “Hark to the Street Cries in the Noisy City”. My Papa taught us to sing “Oh, I went to Chicago and I walked around the block”.  He loved to claim he could have sung on radio. He and Myrna made a great singing team.

Well, as I started 9th grade my mother arranged for me to accompany the boys chorus. She also signed me up for piano and accordian lessons, which I loved. As the years flew by I had many opportunities to accompany choirs and instrumental solos for friends as well as other musical numbers. However, I graduated from ASU with a degree in Secondary Education English. I married Marty soon after graduation and substitute taught for a year. I began teaching piano a few years later and my sister, Myrna introduced me to the Suzuki piano method of teaching when my oldest was about 12 years old. I then attended many workshops and teacher training groups for many years and participated in many traditional and Suzuki piano activities. My students won many awards, but I decided to take a less competitive approach to teaching and do my own thing these days – less stressful and still alot of fun!

During the first couple of years I taught piano, one of the piano mothers in the Suzuki association I belonged to began to encourage her child to practice by saying, “Would you rather milk a cow or practice the piano?” I thought that was so clever and as the decades have passed I thought it would be fun to write a book with that title. So….instead, I am writing a blog with that title. It’s especially meaningful to me as I grew up on a farm and although my dear Papa found it impossible to teach me to milk a cow, my Mama found it very possible to teach me to play the piano. I had to chuckle last year when the dad of one of my 8 year old students (who was complaining about practicing) suggested to his son that maybe he would rather clean the house than practice.

My philosophy is that imagination and creativity is the music of life. Piano lessons are an excellent way to help develop confidence and skills that can be applied to every experience in life. I think music of any type develops an ability to imagine, to create, to feel joy in life and can be a wonderful blessing. I also realize that there are other forms of art and creativity  that bless in the same way. I call it all “The Music of Life”!

Here is an introduction to the most important music in my life — my family—–

My firstborn, Elizabeth Joy, loved music at a very young age. From her second day on earth, she loved and responded to music. As she lay on her daddy’s chest he gently hummed, quieting the frantic cries of a newborn. She suffered often from colic but always relaxed as her mother quietly rocked her singing every Christmas song and lullaby she could remember or dream up. (Baby Beth was born 2 days before Christmas.) As the weeks went by her mother (myself) loved to hold and rock and sing to her precious baby. It is important to note that parents had very ordinary voices with no singing skills at all – only love. At the age of 12, Beth told me that when she was troubled she often had a song come into her mind that would comfort. In regards to piano – she was very independent and I did not yet understand about how to teach the “nurtured by love” method of Dr. Suzuki. The music within her has exhibted in many ways; her love for beautiful music;  her joy of dance, which she excelled in with almost no instruction; her love of the beauties of nature; her love to create all manner of unique projects. Music is within her system, and although she has never milked a cow, she has milked a few goats!

Melissa (Missy) arrived gently as she greeted the world. The folk songs of Daddy and primary songs of Mommy were her nightly lullabies during  her infancy and early childhood. As she began her school years, she yearned to play the volin and took to it naturally with enthusiasm for 3 years. She loved to sing and joined the junior high choir. In high school she played the trumpet in the band and looked so elegant in her uniform as she marched in style. The music of Missy’s heart has been sung in many ways, which she now shares with her 4 beautiful daughters through many paths of creativity. Music is in fact the very soul of creativity. (And….she has actually helped milk a cow instead of practicing the piano.)

Marsie was born as a gifted pianist with musical skills bursting out like blossoms on a peach tree. She recognized music at an early age and loved to dance joyfully to all family home evening songs. She performed beautifully and elegantly, receiving many awards. She also excelled on the flute and marched in the band. She shared her sweet and loyal nature with all her friends and family – which is the loveliest music of all. She chose to practice the piano rather than milk the cows. (of course there weren’t any to milk)

Hannelora brought sunshine and music into our home. She played with enthusiasm and with happiness. She was ready to practice early in the morning with the sunrise. The love of piano filled her heart and our home for over 10 years. As Hanne entered 4th grade, she began to learn to play the clarinet and it was great fun to see her perform with the band for the next 8 years. To this day the music within overflows with an abundance of creativity as a homemaker. No cows, but plenty of music, cooking and creative projects.

Eric was so excited to have his turn to begin piano at about age 3 or 4 with “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. His enthusiasm was contagious, he loved to practice and he loved to perform. He was diligent and cooperative and had so many delightful experiences with piano music. As a teen he began playing original music spontaneously and has continued that to this day when near a piano. He played trumpet in the band for 8 years and loved to sing with the church choir as a young adult. The music within him has erupted in numerous creative ways with computer and video creations and many other projects. Music is his middle name, but he never learned how to milk a cow.

Joseph is our miracle boy – his life spared at birth and also when he was nearing his first birthday. We have a song in our heart for him. He learned much on the piano, playing several duets with his brother, Eric and learning several classical songs. At about age 10 he stopped practicing, but several years later taught himself to play a difiicult Bach Gigue, which he played so very musically with no teacher instruction. He also has a musical singing voice. He had several fun years of playing the saxaphone. Mostly, his creative music from within is displayed in his creative writing, his storytelling, his movies he makes. He neither practices the piano nor milks the cow, but he does protect others as a security guard.

Jacob was always a joy to practice with – he loved music, making movies and practicing piano. He was willing to work with Mom and always had a cheerful nature at the piano. He worked hard for many years sharing his love of music. He excelled in singing and took voice lessons. He also played the clarinet in the band for 8 years. He had so much music within that he couldn’t contain the songs or humming that was so much a part of his daily presence and often burst forth into songs from the heart. No cows needed for him, he was always available to help wherever needed (and still is). His music shines forth in his wonderful smiles. He has many gifts and talents and uses them all to benefit others.

Jared is Mr. Musicman – the think method type. He is bursting with creative music of every sort – the list is too long of his many talents and abilities. Eric taught him to play trumpet at an early age, but he chose to play drums at a later age in elementary and junior high. His creative arts took hold and put his piano career in last category. He never did much on piano, never wanted to milk a cow, but he can create anything he can imagine on computer, movies, with clay, etc.