I’ve always wanted to be a musician, but it has taken very different forms throughout my life. Piano was my first instrument. My mother taught me to play in our home on the piano that was purchased for her by her father on the day she was born. I was about 5 when we started. Of course I was impatient and wanted to play bigger songs than my little hands were ready for. But somehow mom kept me interested enough to continue with basic skills and practice. Another influence at that time was the pianist at our church, Mrs. Spitler. She would let me sit beside her on the piano bench while she played at church and I just knew I was going to grow up just like her.
Eventually I “graduated” to formal piano lessons from Mrs. Wilkie. What I remember most about my lessons with Mrs. Wilie was the walk to her home up the big hill, past the park, and the beautiful windows in the room where the piano was. I don’t remember how long I took lessons there, but probably until Junior High School. I remember that she loved the classics like Beethoven and Bach. I vaguely remember recitals where we would get dressed up and everyone would play at least one song. After that I took lessons from Pam Gilbert. I remember recitals in her living room. She was the organist at our church at that time so she also introduced me to playing organ. I even played organ during Sunday services at church when I was in high school and have continued to fill in when needed (but I’m quite rusty). Piano continues to be a large part of my life, and yes, I still have my mother’s old piano but no longer play it. I think I have played the piano through all of the worst moments of my life because it brings me peace and comfort. Sometimes I play at church, and once a month I play for meetings of Eastern Star.
Over the years I’ve attempted many other instruments including guitar, accordian, banjo, mandolin, hammered dulcimer, bagpipes, tin whistle, and lever harp. My stint with guitar only lasted through high school, and my time with accordian, banjo, and bagpipe was about a year for each one. I continue to play the mandolin occasionally and am trying to learn tin whistle. I started playing lever harp March 2024 and it is probably my favorite instrument of all (other than piano).
I started singing in choir when I was 7, but there are tapes of me singing long before that. I’ve sung in school choirs, children’s church choirs, small country church choirs, huge formal church choirs, small ensembles, and as a soloist. In high school my greatest ambition was to be a backup singer for John Denver. Then, I decided being a back up singer for almost anyone would be ok. I did get to sing backup in a John Denver song for a local artist and that was pretty cool. I continue to sing as often as possible at church and in the community. More than anything else, music is the thread that gives my life continuity. So few other things have been so ever present in my life.