Dusting Off Old Ambitions

I walked up to the door, rang the doorbell I've rung hundreds of times, wiped my feet in the old familiar piano-keys doormat, was greeted by that same old sweet, familiar voice, and walked into the living room where still sits the elegant, white grand piano, in the same corner as always. The smell was the same, the notes on the keyboard felt the same, the phrases used by my piano teacher were even the same after all these years. At the end of the lesson she even handed me a sheet with the songs I was to practice that week, written in the same old handwriting, and in pencil, as always. And thus began my piano lessons . . . that I'm taking this summer.

That's right. After at least a 10-year break from piano lessons, I'm starting up again, for a refresher course. I've realized now that I've begun teaching lessons that I'm a little rusty in some areas and need to wipe away some of the music theory cobwebs so that I feel more comfortable teaching my students. So while we're home for the summer and I have family at my fingertips to help with Eliot during lessons, Grant and I thought this would be an ideal time for me to take some lessons for a few months. And after my first lesson, I'm thrilled to be playing again!

The part that I'm most excited about is being able to learn a few songs that I've always wanted to learn but knew I wouldn't be able to figure out alone, including these two songs -- "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin (an arrangement, not the original . . . I'll leave that to the concert pianists!!), and a piano arrangement of "O Divine Redeemer" by Charles Francois Gounod.
I'm really excited to learn these pieces once and for all, and I'm loving how exciting it is to be learning and stretching myself and just to have the confidence that comes with accomplishing something difficult. I also love the spirit that I feel when I play. Music has always reached my heart and soul, and especially when I play "O, Divine Redeemer," I remember one of the greatest reasons why I love to play music. It's a way for me to praise and honor the Savior and my Heavenly Father.

So I'm having a ball being a piano student again. Hope I can tackle these pieces and meet my objectives of de-rusting my musical memory. Wish me luck!