Forgotten Piano Talents

When I was young, around 8 years old, my parents bought a piano. An old wooden upright piano from a school my Aunt Shirley worked at. It was banged up, and painted many times over. My parents took it apart piece by piece, stripping it, sanding it, staining and varnishing it to a high gloss. When it was done... it was parked in my bedroom. Mind you, this thing was 5 feet long, nearly 3 feet deep and probably 5 feet high; my bedroom was only 10x10! It took up a good chunk of real estate! My mother then proceeded to find someone to give me piano lessons. And I dutiful began learning to play. (and yes, I hated the recitals!) As time went on, the piano teacher moved away, and it was time to find another.

Both my sister and I took lessons from another teacher. She was a cute blond, and I was envious when her boyfriend came over and sat in on the lessons. I was also as nervous as all get out, because by this time, I was in my teens and very conscious of boys! Eventually, I gave up on the lessons with this teacher. I didn't seem to be making any more progress. Or maybe my interest was going in other directions: boys, learning to drive, boys, dances, boys, football games, boys. Did I mention boys? lol

Over time, I let my love of playing get away from me. The piano had also moved from my room into the family room. After marriage and kids and real life, I picked up a simple Casio keyboard, and tinkered. But it wasn't the same as playing a real piano. Somewhere in my 30's, I got a Roland full size keyboard, with weighted keys and a few digital options. It was state of the art for its time! And I played, picked up where I had left off, and started taking a piano class at the local junior college. I was a little further ahead than "beginning" and the teacher pushed me to take on some different, more complex pieces. (yes, I balked, thinking I couldn't handle something too advanced!) But again, perseverance paid off and I fell in love with playing all over again.

In the meantime, Mom had decided it was time to get rid of the albatross.... errr... piano, as it was taking up too much room and no one was playing it. And since I was the 'player' in the family, it became mine. I moved it all the way to Ohio with me, and parked it in the living room there. And played. So did the kids. It was fun to tinker, and hear it being played. I also had moved my keyboard with me, but never set it up. I left that albatross when I moved out, and moved on. In fact, when I moved to Dayton, then moved again to Arizona, at neither place did I have the keyboard set up so I could play it. (My son had it in his room to tinker with for a while.)

And now, I have a home, and my keyboard is set up in what I thought would be an "office". It has since evolved into a music room. Today, I had some free time and sat down and began to play again. I started off slow, with things from my school days, and a few simple tunes. I played the song I played for my first recital: Blowin' in the Wind. And Whispering Hope. Then I turned the pages to Handel's Largo: the song I learned for recital in jr college. What I'm amazed at is how the fingers remember where to go, even when the eyes can't quite remember note is on which line. It came rushing back in a flood of exhilarated memories that I can still play!! With that in mind, I will be taking some time to tune up, practice my craft, even if it never gets beyond the pleasures I get from playing.

What talent(s) did you have growing up?
Have you continued with any of them?
If not, then I suggest giving an old pleasure a chance
to bring some simple joy into your life!

not so talented but fun HUGS to everyone!