I took piano lessons as a child and played for several years. I also learned how to play an organ, and my folks bought one for our family, but then it mostly sat idle. For a short time I took piano lessons as an adult, but it was still hard to find time to practice. It’s not like riding a bike…I forgot a lot.
When our sons were younger we wanted them to have a general music background so we had them take two years of piano. However, after two years they could choose to keep taking lessons or not. One did, one didn’t. We bought a used spinet piano at the Schmidt’s annual piano sale (with the little money we received from my grandfather’s inheritance-it wasn’t much but we bought a piano) and we still have this piano in our house. I play and practice a little (very little!) and when my son comes home he usually sits down to play. I enjoy listening to him play.
What I have really enjoyed the past few years is playing duets with a friend. She’s a piano teacher so she plays the more advanced part and I play the easier part, and it works! We both enjoy our time together and laugh a lot…while making music. We look forward to playing together and we hope to find more opportunity to do so now that I’m retired.
She has a beautiful, grand piano and we practice at her house most of the time. And when she goes out of town I “water her piano!” Who knew…some pianos have humidifiers and they need to be filled with water every few weeks…so instead of watering plants I water a piano!
Another successful Christmas Festival happened at St. Olaf College over the weekend – complete with live streaming – it’s the 105th year. A sprinkling of white snow made the campus look “Christmasy” on Sunday. This year’s theme, Light Dawns, Hope Blooms, was reflected in the music and set design. Five choirs and an amazing orchestra, all current students, sing and play their hearts out and it’s beautiful service to begin the Advent season, with hope.
