Just Duet

Don’t you love a happy surprise?  It doesn’t even have to be a big surprise – just something small to brighten your day.  A flower, a note, a piece of chocolate, a new piano duet…  That’s what my wonderful husband gave me this week.  The duet, that is.  I’m still hoping for the chocolate… :)

Just for the record, my husband and I love Leroy Anderson’s music.  This is probably one of his better-known pieces – the one we all hear at Christmas!

One piano, four hands… That means we get to sit on the bench together!  :)

This one’s going to take a little practice, but I sure am looking forward to playing it!

And, yes, we have already started practicing!  We should have it ready to roll by Christmas!  I love having a thoughtful, musical husband.

What will he think of next?

Exciting News!

I am in the process of making my newest piano arrangements available online!  Woo hoo!  It may not be that exciting to you, but this is something that has been on my “to-do” list for what seems like forever.  I published my first book of piano arrangements, And With My Song Will I Praise Him, in 2002 (wow, that was a long time ago).  It was the work of several years of writing, and countless hours of detailed editing.  The first book had barely cooled from the press when I began receiving requests for a second book.  Seriously?!  Then along came four little munchkins, a busy traveling schedule, home schooling, and a host of normal life activities, and the piano book was pushed to the proverbial back burner where it has been simmering ever since. 
I seriously considered publishing a second set of arrangements in book format, but that is not possible right now for various reasons.   Since the advent of digital media has advanced so much since that first book, I thought the music would be more accessible if I made the arrangements available as I finished them.  They will be available for purchase individually through our ministry website.  There is also a new link on the right side of my blog - Sacred Piano Arrangements.  Day by Day  will be my first available arrangement, with others soon to follow!  I have several arrangements in various stages of finishing and editing at present, and this development has really given me a boost toward finishing those last few pages!  Pray with me as I work toward this goal.  Stay tuned for updates on this process! :)

Pass It On

For over a year, Esther has been asking me to teach her piano.  I have put it off until this year, hoping that she would learn her ABC’s and 123’s first – it makes teaching piano so much easier!  I feel as if I have bitten off more than I can chew at this point.  She is so excited that I can hardly get her to sit still on the bench!  She squirms and wriggles, smiles and giggles all while pressing the keys of the piano.

I guess I tend to be somewhat OCD about extra-curricular noise and movement, a trait I seem to have inherited from my maternal grandfather. :)  Whatever the reason, it is all I can do to not scream as she writhes about on the bench beside me!  I can only give short lessons at this point…  Bad mom, I know.  Perhaps she will grow out out of it?!

 

After our lesson this week, Daniel came in and was playing on the piano.  I was doing something in the next room, and I heard Esther’s voice prompting his actions.  “Now, Daniel. Push this one, now this one, and this one!”  They were both delighted with their music, and she exclaimed to me, “Mama!  I’m teaching Daniel to play the piano!”  I couldn’t resist snapping a few pictures of the two of them playing happily together!

 

Here are my two budding musicians, hard at work!  I just love those smiles!

 

 

 

Here they are playing Daniel’s “favorite song.” At least, that is what he said when she flipped the page in the book.  How he made this determination is probably totally arbitrary, since neither one of them can play the song, but it really was funny!  I love the way she has her arm around him – just like the sweet big sister that she is (most of the time)!

Ticklin’ the Ivories

Music has been a part of my life ever since I can remember.  My parents sacrificed for my brothers and me to take piano lessons.  I began taking lessons in 1984, and continued all the way through my college years and beyond.  I suppose my last formal lessons were in 2001, but I have endeavored to continue learning and improving my playing, even though I no longer have a teacher or a regular lesson time.  Those of you who do the same know how difficult it is to challenge yourself!

I have begun teaching my oldest two children, and they are coming along rather well, in spite of the irregularity of their lessons ( we do not have a piano or keyboard in the trailer, so when we are on the road, the lessons are sporadic at best).  However, they all have developed a great love for singing, playing, and anything musical.  We have a lovely piano that the Lord allowed us to purchase, and although I want to keep it free from little fingerprints, I allow my children access to this instrument at all times.   Here is Daniel picking out a tune on the piano.  He “practiced” for about twenty minutes before I snapped this picture. :)



The most important thing is that they learn to enjoy playing.  I do not believe there are ever any great musicians who do not love to play their instrument.  Dedication is good, and discipline is essential, but without the love of playing, you can never truly pass over the line to true musicianship.  I want to instill in my children a love for music that will drive them on to greater heights than I and my husband have achieved.  I do not want to pressure them to be a copy of my husband or myself, but I do want them to get the most out of our musical training.  One step at a time, I want to lead them to a love of music, and a lifetime of enjoyment serving the Lord with their talents.

Do you play an instrument?  Did you ever take lessons?  Who was the most influential teacher you ever had?