So many times, when people approach me, they tell me they aren’t “musical.” While there’s an argument for DNA, as evidenced by the Bach family, many musicians sprang up out of what seems to be the desert. I’m one of those.
So, some of the preceding back story is for those of you who feel you aren’t “musical,” but there will be things more pointedly related to the study of piano and music, in general, as I go along. There will also be a brief continuation of my personal music history…please try to stay awake. 🙂
Another reason for this blog is that, if you look at the “About” part of this website, you’ll see that I have a kind of creative, educational, and professional split personality.
When I was very young, I had a little dialog running in my head, “Am I a musician, or am I a writer?” I thought I had to dress the part, but I couldn’t figure out which costume to wear. Later, reality took over, and I had to make a living. There followed many years in public education, and I was assigned to positions depending on the needs of the district and the school.
Now, I’m retired from public education, so I have the time to pursue “my passion,” as some would put it.
I love giving piano lessons in a private setting, and I love reading and writing.
I’ve been having a wonderful time setting up this website and thinking about this blog. Since I don’t expect many people will read this at all, I feel the self-indulgence is fine: it keeps me busy, it gives me a writing focus, it lets interested parties know I want piano students, and it will be sort of educational.
I took piano lessons as an adult for a short time but the man who taught me was always drunk and I didn’t want to have to learn to read music, so it wasn’t a great success. The lessons were held in a lovely flat near the centre of Edinburgh, which my piano teacher shared with a local priest. I remember the ceilings were very high and the room we played in was enormous. I still wish I could play the piano.
Hilarious! I get a lot of drunk/crazy piano teacher stories. Interesting that the lovely flat seemed a fonder memory than the lessons. For 10 years, most of my teachers were Irish nuns, and my longest running piano teacher was one of them. Not drunk or crazy, but maybe a little disgruntled. You could still play the piano, but don’t stop writing about tea shops. Your blog is wonderful! How did you go from being at sea to writing about tea shops?
Perhaps it’s not too surprising that there are so many such stories. I would imagine that having to listen to endless streams of students murdering a musical instrument could easily tip you over the edge. I rented a room from a violin teacher once, who taught young children to play in the evenings, using the room below my bedroom. She was a nice lady but somewhat highly strung.
How did you come to be taught the piano by nuns? It seems quite unusual. Much as I would love to be able to play the piano, I think I’ll stick to tearooms for the time being, it’s much easier. I don’t know quite why I only started to write about them now, perhaps because I have the time with being an offshore freelancer. I have months at home at a time when I’m not at sea, and if I’m writing about tearooms instead of just indulging in them quietly, it seems more purposeful. Thank you for your kind comments, you’re very generous.
I have no idea why some music teachers are that way. If you’re serious in any way about performance, though, you have to be kind of perfectionistic.
I intend to include some bits about the nun in a blog anecdote. History has it that the nuns came to Texas as a mission in 1869. They set up hospitals and schools. The original three were French, but by the time I went to school they were all Irish–from Ireland–not descendents. I went to church affiliated school for grades 1-8, and the nuns’ high school for grades 9-12, so almost ALL of my teachers until I was 17 were Irish nuns. Maybe that’s why I’m so fond of all things UK.
With regard to your writing, I’m not being generous. It’s humorous, entertaining, inviting, and not pretentious. Plus, I love all the pics.
You really are too kind, but thank you. I’m looking forward to reading more about your nuns. I know that many people who attend convent schools have interesting stories about their schooling. There’s something very mysterious about nuns, perhaps it’s the idea of giving your life to God like that and wearing a wedding ring to signify your devotion. It’s a strange world that both entices and sort of horrifies me in a way. Have you seen the film “Doubt”? I watched it recently and it made quite an impression on me.
I haven’t seen “Doubt.” I think it’s on Netflix. I’ll have to check it out. Our nuns weren’t creepy. Most of them were pretty normal.
Well I must add that I don’t have a musical bone in my body (well not one that others might experience anyhow) but each and every day I am surrounded by beautiful & talented musicians and opera singers in my day to day job at the Opera company where I have the pleasure and delight of handling the costumes for the artists!
I work on no fewer than 10-15 productions each year, it’s fun filled, exhausting but such a pleasure to be surrounded by such wonderful music!
It’s so important to have varying interests and keep growing in our hobbies and learning, whether through writing, cooking etc, thank you for sharing 🙂
Sounds like a terrific job! Honestly, I don’t see how you find the time and energy to do everything you do. Your costume designs are beautiful, imaginative, and exotic. Your cooking is beautiful, and I know it’s delicious. I can’t wait to try some of your recipes!
Thanks for your comments, and I agree that you should have varying interests to really enjoy life. You seem to be a person who lives to the max!!!
Thank you! At the moment I’m living my life to the max eating breakfast cereal in my Pj’s surrounded by food blogs and magazines but then, it is Sunday morning here, lol 🙂