Songbird Piano Lessons

 A tempo Return to your original speed

Obviously, I teach piano. What you may not know about me is that I also write songs. It's fun, and a great way to express my faith . The challenging part, though, is what to do with the song after I've written it. A lot of my songs have only been heard by a select few (those select few having an odd resemblance to my parents and siblings in most cases).     See, I don't really sing. Oh, I'll sing while teaching, particularly if it's a solfege lesson. That's different. And I'll sing at home, in the garden, the shower, the car... anywhere where there's not an audience. And at church, because everyone else is too busy singing as well to notice my voice. I'll put it to you this way: My voice is an untrained voice.     That's when it's great to have a friend who sings. Like  Bethany Fehr . Besides being an amazing friend and a thorough editor, she also has a lovely voice. Last year she willingly worked with me to make a video of my song,  No Fear.

 Ritardando Slowing Down Gradually

  Here is one weird fact about me:      The thought of public speaking doesn't scare me. I mean, I still get nervous once I'm up there, but I kind of like the adrenalin rush.     But I'm also an introvert. Major, major, major introvert. Just ask my family.    One older friend who is also an introvert and who has been a ministry leader for many years of her long and fruitful life told me that public speaking is easier in some aspects than engaging one-on-one. But I think that, in my case, a long history of piano recitals and performances has something to do with my lack of fear. I mean, one of my majorly extroverted siblings avoids public speaking like the plague.     Still, that doesn't change the fact: Most of you find piano recitals scary. It's nerve-wracking to get up there in front of everyone and play. For the rare one who hasn't felt that, I'm very impressed. Because that was never me. And that's not most students. So... what do we do about it?    

 This isn't an easy post to write, but I've always believed that honesty is the best policy. Some of my students have been asking me if we're going to learn any Halloween music. I feel that there's a need to address the topic here.    The answer is no.    That might seem shocking, but let me explain why (and please be gracious as I try to be clear without being offensive). I don't celebrate Halloween. You will never see Halloween decorations in the studio or hear about Halloween games being played during October. But before you shrug your shoulders and mutter, "religious radical"... well, maybe I am being radical, but I'd like to explain why that "radical-ness" is consistent with  my Christian faith.  I'm not going to bash anyone here. I don't judge anyone who does celebrate Halloween. I just feel very strongly that for me to do so would be inconsistent with what I believe. Here's why: Halloween celebrates fear. You don't have

 Since I didn't ask anyone the Word of the Week during Group Lessons, we'll be using the same word this coming week as I posted last week.  Click here to review the definition for 'Grazioso.'

 I was going to write a longer post yesterday... and then I got busy and forgot. Nonetheless, may your song today be a song of thankfulness to the One Who made us, saved us , and gave us the gift of music to praise Him with!

 Grazioso Gracefully