Gift of Music

Music has been, and I hope it continues to be, a big part of my life.  My mother and father worked hard and sacrificed to put us all in piano lessons, and I started at the early age of 3.  My mom patiently sat with us, practicing with us each day.  There were many days we fought her on it, and many days we lost out on playing in the pond or out in the snow...but we got our practicing done, even if it took us 3 or 4 hours!  There weren't many mornings when my dad didn't wake me up before the sun so I could be the first to get my time in on the ivory keys.  I loved that he cared enough to wake up a grumpy girl so she would have time to practice, THEN get ready for school!

I will forever be grateful for my mom's persistence and my dad's encouragement.  I hope that my children will come to love music as much as I do!

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We are very fortunate to have a great piano teacher.  She teaches my boys and I teach her girls and it has worked out pretty well, for us to be held 'accountable'.  :)

I am so proud of Tanner and Taylor for working so diligently in learning and memorizing their Christmas pieces!  Their songs weren't the usual melody being played with both hands.....they had more challenging pieces where the melody was in the right, and the left harmonized with chords and simple patterns.  It was a pretty big deal at our house, and they even complete a 100's chart the week before and the day of the recital (a 10x10 grid that when a specific task was practiced, they got a sticker.....all the way to 100 stickers!!)

Tanner played "Away in a Manger"...

Taylor played "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing"...

Kortlen even sang in the little Mozart's group and was so cute!

Way to go, boys!  You made your mama proud!