My Piano Story

This is my musical story. It all started in Christmas of second grade. My grandparents decided to get a piano for our family as a present (my parents couldn't afford one.) Shortly thereafter, we kids were asked if we wanted to learn.

I said yes! I started lessons from a wonderful lady down the street in third grade. How I wish I had a video of those early lessons! Not much talent in the early days! I kept going (to paraphrase Forest Gump) and after about five years I was wanting to beat Mrs. Petty's star student. I eventually passed him and didn't know it.

Actually my big turning point came at a concert. Robert Musinsky won a local concerto competition, and was rewarded by soloing with the Troy Community Orchestra. I was absolutely floored that this boy was on stage and I wasn't. He was my same age - 13.

From then on, I went ballistic with practice. Two plus hours per day. This I when I became 'talented'. Eventually I decided I should make music my living, but my teacher and family were against it.

So I went to college and majored in everything except music! Fortunately I met a girl on a bus. I was going to audition for the intramural orchestra, and a girl asked me something. We got off at the same stop, and I proceeded to explain. She turned out to be the librarian for the same orchestra. I mentioned that I also played piano (besides trombone and violin). She was a flute player and needed an accompanist for a gig. I said sure.

We played for a college campus ministry. I had so much fun, I practically begged the minister if I could play again. She said yes. I ended up playing for the group 4 more years till I moved to Seattle. 20 years later I still keep in touch with several wonderful friends I made there.

When I moved to Seattle, I got a regular job. I joined a church group, and was able to play for them occasionally. I bought a keyboard so I could keep playing. One day a friend asked if I would teach his kids piano. It sounded interesting, so I said yes. The lesson was fun, in fact much more fun than my job!

I was still working a regular job (that I hated). I really wanted to do music full time, but I had no savings. The only solution I could think of was to get fired from my job so I could collect unemployment. We even prayed for me to get fired in our church group! The next week my grandpa was really going downhill (he was 92). I bought my piano with money he lent me the following Monday. Mom told me Sunday he wasn't looking well. The next morning I called the nursing home. They said they were sorry, but he died in his sleep. Going to work, I asked my boss for time off for the funeral. He paused, and asked if I wanted to take Wednesday through the weekend off. I said I only wanted two days. He asked again. I repeated myself. He finally paused, then asked if I would step outside. I was a little worried. Then he told me Friday was to be my last day! I was super excited and scared at the same time. Would I get the unemployment? He assured me I would.

So I set out to get a full load of students. I handed out flyers in my neighborhood. That was only marginally successful. (If you're interested in teaching, I have some advice here: Teaching Advice I told a musician friend, and she referred me to a ballet teacher. That lead to playing for ballet classes. By August I still didn't have enough students to survive without unemployment, so I was getting nervous. Then an amazing thing happened! A group of us singles were in the habit of going ballroom dancing Saturday nights. Someone mentioned that there was a new girl. I introduced myself. She said she was from Alabama and that she taught music. I mentioned my predicament, and she said she was changing schools, so I could have the piano students she had at her last school! Bingo!

As school started I had enough students to discontinue unemployment. Another flyer lead to a choir accompaniment job. And it's been up, up ever since. I've been a full time musician since that fateful 1996. I enjoy every minute, and the learning never stops! Home