You've all seen my profile picture; I'm the little girl at the piano. Many of you have asked if I am playing the piano on my soundtrack. No, I am not, but I do have the ability.
Today I am truly thankful for the gift of music. I love music of all kinds and always have. I took 13 years of piano lessons, and also played clarinet and alto clarinet in the high school band. When I became an adult, I took organ lessons. I started teaching piano when I was 15, and later also taught organ. Hundreds of children have come through my doors in the last 40 years. I have written some music; for a while it was a passion. Recently, I decided to try to learn the tin whistle, an Irish flute. I haven't been too successful yet.
I believe the gift comes with an obligation. I have tried to give back by playing for the adult and children's choirs, Christmas programs at church, and VBS, but sometimes I still feel like I have not done enough. There finally came a time when I realized I didn't have it in me anymore. A few years ago I gave up choir, and this year I retired from teaching piano. I still feel guilty about it.
I truly don't know what I would have done without music in my life. I'm grateful for the fact that I am never bored. The piano is always waiting patiently for my fingers to run over the keys. If there's nothing interesting to do, I play the piano. My piano has shared my joy, my tears, my fears, and my anticipations. At times, I have poured out my love -- at other times, my anguish -- as I played.
I am blessed with a God given gift of music, and I am thankful.
For more Thankful Thursday posts see Rhondi's list at Rose Colored Glasses.
Don't forget to visit An Herbal Bedfellow for healthy recipes made with herbs, and also my newest blog:
Happenstance House -- A journal about my Victorian home and all of it's contents.
6 comments:
I would love to be able to play music. I just love to listen to people play the piano or the guitar. What a wonderful gift you have.
I wish I had the gift to play the piano. One of my sisters is quite good and I always begged her to play for me as a child. I love music and can't imagine life without it. I played clarinet and later trumpet and baritone in the school band. Not great on any of them, but developed a deep love for music in the process. I'm sure you will find new ways to share your gift with others. Have you ever thought about playing at nursing homes? I know people who are always searching for talent to share with people there. Perhaps even just making some CD's and sharing them with those who would love to hear the old tunes they love.
What a beautiful piano Jane Marie! I've never seen one with stained glass like that.
How fortunate you are to have given and received so much pleasure expressing yourself through music.
hipchick and Mary, remember that you do not actually have to play an instrument, or if you do, it does not have to be up to concert performance level. Just the enjoyment of music and learning to listen to it, brings so much to your life. I can see that you both love music a lot. Surround yourself with it. It can make a bad day good.
garden girl, I had that stained glass piece made for me by an adult student. We worked on a barter system exchanging equal hours of work. I've had it in the music stand for over 25 years and still love it.
My daughter took 10 years of piano lessons through the Royal Conservatory and plays beautifully. Music truly is a gift! Your piano is absolutely beautiful.
Likely there's something else meant for you just over the horizon. And will show itself to you soon. So don't feel guilty. Things come and go in our lives. Just a normal thing to happen.
Brenda
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