Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Learning Piano

One of my favorite memories as a small child was when my dad would pull out his guitar and sing, sometimes we would get to sing with him in a talent show or just at home. He sang a LOT of "Simon and Garfunkel" or "Peter, Paul, and Mary" we loved songs like "Puff, the Magic Dragon" and "The Sounds of Silence", "Marvelous Toy" and "Rhinestone Cowboy" (among others). In my opinion, my dad was the best singer and guitarist in the world. I still think he's among the top 5.

As I got older, I felt a desire to be like my dad, but I wanted to play piano instead of guitar. I begged my parents, but we were poor and my 3 older siblings had all given up on something my parents had put money into so they weren't really thrilled to get me piano lessons.

In 1991, when my oldest brother left on his mission I wanted to cry when he had a special musical number for his farewell and I couldn't be a part of it, I didn't know how to play piano or sing. 

In 1992, my dad was helping a family move in a couple blocks away. They had 2 pianos AND an organ. My dad asked her if she taught lessons, and how much it would cost. (I guess my begging had gotten to be too much by then.) The elderly couple had a dog, and it was getting to be too hard for them to walk him. She asked my dad if I would walk their dog in exchange for piano lessons. Of course my dad jumped on the chance.

So in the summer of 1992, at the age if 12, I started to learn piano from an amazing woman named Barbara Jepson. I worked my way through the beginner books, embarrassed to be playing such simple songs at my age. I still remember my first piano concert just 21 months later. Barbara told me she'd never had a student learn as quickly as I did. 

By the time I turned 16, I was in the high school orchestra, jazz band, concert band, and pep band. Some of my high school friends may not think that is very impressive, haha. But I was so happy to be using my talents.

Here I am, almost 40 years old, struggling to play like I used to because of medications and ECT. But I'm ALIVE and I can still play fairly well (I think). I hope to share this skill for the rest of my life because I believe it was given to me from Heavenly Father. And the fact that all my suicidal thoughts haven't taken me from this life, and I've been lucky enough to share my story and keep my talents means something! 

I hope this doesn't come across as boasting. I am so grateful to be able to share my story. To still be alive, and to be getting better every day.

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