I grew up around music and pianos.  I fondly remember a old upright piano in our dining room that Mom gave piano lessons on.  When I was just a small child, I would sit on the floor in the living room playing with dolls, while Mom gave lessons.  When at age 4 I began to correct her piano students when they were playing by saying , “No, that should be a C or D”, Mom decided that it was time for me to start piano lessons.  To my delight, I began my lifelong friendship with the piano!

I always admired my Mom for being able to play both the piano and organ.  She could sit down and play just about anything.  Mom told me that the night before she gave birth to me, she was playing the organ at church.  I truly believe that prenatally, I heard her music and wanted to be a part of music too. My Dad could also play the piano, but wasn’t quite as accomplished as Mom. Dad and Mom would occasionally play a piano duet or she would play and he would sing in his big bass voice!  I love those memories!

Each year, Mom would have her students give a piano recital.  I was so excited when I was included in a recital and played my first solo, “Big Owl”.  I still remember that song.  I like to share the story with my students at school about how I learned to play the piano.  I play the song “Big Owl” for my students and then play various songs that continue to get at a higher level.  I usually end with a classical song such at “Prelude in C Sharp Minor” by Rachmaninoff.  I tell my students that learning to play the piano takes time, patience and years to perfect, but it’s worth it.

The piano has opened many doors in my life.  I started playing for “Junior Church” when I was around 9 or 10.  I played the piano at school for variety  and talent shows and was an accompanist for both church choirs and my High School Choir.  I played for many weddings over the years and gave piano lessons.  The piano was part of what helped me to decide what career to pursue – music education.  The piano is a daily part of my teaching and it is so much fun to have the piano be a part of my classroom.

Mom played the piano until she was in her mid 80’s.  Unfortunately, Mom developed Alzheimer’s and had to go to a nursing home for several years. As the Alzheimer’s progressed, so did her ability to play the piano. I moved her piano to our home, played it and taught piano on it for many years. I gave both of our daughter piano lessons.  For a few years our daughter Caitlyn had Mom’s piano in her home until she moved out West.  Now that same piano is in one of my music classrooms.  The picture above is a picture of Mom’s piano in my classroom.  I feel like I’m sharing a piece of my Mom’s talent and life when I play that piano for my students.  I give my students a little history about Mom’s piano and how she is the one responsible for my love for both music and the piano!

On the website store you’ll find “Taylor’s Song”, which is a beginning piano piece that I wrote for my great niece Taylor.  It is a nice song for beginning pianists that is in C and F position.  It’s fun, easy, and sounds a lot harder than it is!  Get a copy for your budding pianist to learn!

The piano is truly my lifelong friend!  I enjoy playing it everyday and enjoy sharing music with others.  I hope that I can inspire my students to find a passion and life long friend through music. What a wonderful gift!  What a wonderful friend!

“Life is like a piano.
What you get out of it depends on how you play it.”

– Tom Lehre