Legacy

It's June 2012, and that means this month I celebrate 25 years of playing the piano! It's hard to believe it's been going that long. I was thinking recently about all the people in my life who have contributed to the musical aspect of who I am.

One set of my great-grandparents started this musical legacy by giving an inheritance to my parents, even while they were still alive, I suppose so they could see them enjoy the gift. My parents bought  a piano, knowing it would be "lasting and meaningful," in my mother's words.

Both of my grandmothers are pianists and I'm sure my talent comes from them. My father sacrificed his quiet early morning minutes when I woke him up by practicing the piano before school, and he sacrificed monetarily by sending me out-of-town 3 nights a month to a university to take lessons during high school. My mother encouraged me through example (she often played the piano and sang while we were young at home) and through determination to do my best. I still remember how she had me "clock in" at the piano once I started my university lessons during my high school years so I would make the most of my practice time. It's funny, when I was in grad school and totally living on my own, I started clocking myself in at the piano again! She sacrificed her time by driving me an hour and a half to my piano lessons while I was in high school. My parents also helped me through college, where I earned a degree in piano.

I had wonderful piano teachers, from Sherri and Carla in my hometown, to Dr. Price through my high school and college years, and then Mr. Hester at the University of Houston, where I earned my Master's Degree in Keyboard Collaborative Arts.

Early on I realized that I didn't really love being a piano soloist but I did love being an "accompanist" - a collaborative pianist. My first "gig" was the 5th grade spring concert, where I played the piano for my classmates on "Wind Beneath My Wings" I think. I'm grateful that Mrs. Boudinot allowed me to try something new, which opened up a whole new world for me. I went on to junior high and was the only 7th grader in the 8th grade show choir, thanks to Mrs. Morris, who saw my talent for accompanying. Mr. Gard, at the local high school, also took note, and I became his right-hand man, er, woman, at the piano all throughout my high school years. I loved it.

At college, I realized I didn't really want a solo piano performance degree - I wanted a collaborative piano degree, which our university didn't have. I was blessed by Dr. Price and Dr. Ryan, who helped me design my own major, and I was able to take vocal diction classes, as well as instrument methods classes, as well as do collaborative works on my recitals instead of just solo works.

Another blessing - getting into a great music school with an amazing collaborative pianist, Tim Hester. I learned so much there, most of which was a better hard-working ethic. Mr. Hester suggested early on that I really needed to be practicing at least 4 hours a day. That was a wake-up call for me. And my diligent practice (and early morning hours came back into play, thanks for the training, Mom! I never would have gotten a good practice room or parking space at that school if not for deciding to get up early again like I once had) and hard-working ethic have been helpful in all other areas of my life, besides just music.

And my husband continues this legacy. He bought me a beautiful piano and encourages me in my musical career, so my music lives on.

Thanks to all who have been a part of this legacy.  Hopefully I'll be able to pass this musical legacy on to our child.