by Rachel | Uncategorized
Can I tell you a story? It’s about a girl and her piano. The piano came long before the girl did…it belonged to her mother, and what a prized posession it was. The piano was the centerpiece of the living room, and a source of endless entertainment for the girl even when she was very little. When she turned five, her mother asked her if she’d like to take piano lessons. Of course she said yes, and so she began her first of many, many years learning to play.
The girl had lots of different piano teachers. First a whole slew at the music store in the mall, then a nun named Sister James Marie throughout junior high and high school. But while her teachers changed, she came home and practiced on that same piano. She didn’t practice as much as she should have, but she did the best she could. After all, she was a very busy girl.
When the girl’s mother turned 40, her family threw her a surprise party. But the biggest surprise was a baby grand piano, which sat front and center in the living room. The old piano still had a spot in that room, but it was mostly ignored. When the girl’s parents moved to a new house, the big shiny one had it’s own room upstairs while the old piano was relegated to the basement. There it stayed for several years, collecting dust.
By now, the girl was all grown up. She and her husband bought a new house, which had a room perfect for her teaching studio. All it needed was a piano. So all the men in the girl’s family got together and rescued that old piano from the basement, lugging it up a flight of stairs, out the door, onto a truck, and finally into the room where it will live from now on.
And that is the story of this girl and her piano. It’s amazing to me that the very same instrument I once banged on as a toddler will be used to teach countless other children how to play. I love my piano.
by Rachel | Uncategorized
I’ve talked about it enough, so I thought it would only be fair to share with you – my lovely readers – the place where I’ll be doing most of my composing, recording, and blogging. I still have some work left to do (I’m waiting on an area rug and there are pictures to be hung) but here are just a few snapshots to give you an idea of what’s going on in my office/studio.
I promise, I don’t usually blog in the dark…
The piano I’ve played since childhood.
Oh, just brushing up on my Mozart.
Daydreaming about Broadway shows in New York City.
Deciding which instrument I feel like playing.
Bookshelf # 1, organized by category.
Bookshelf # 2
Bookshelf # 3 (and Tink!)
A couple of accomplishments, waiting for wall space :)
So there you have it: a sneak peak into my new favorite spot. I have a feeling I’ll be spending most of my time in this room, and that is okay by me! I have yet to reveal the best parts, so stay tuned…
by Rachel | Uncategorized
Okay, okay…I know this is not music-related, but it’s hard to think about much else right now! After our closing yesterday (which went very smoothly), we went straight to our new house and began unloading box after box of stuff. I finally got to open all of our wedding gifts and put them away in the kitchen, and it was so much fun! A little overwhelming, but luckily we had the help of our wonderful parents.
Today the painters are coming to repaint all of the bedrooms and my new office, and then next week we are getting a brand-new kitchen floor. Next Saturday, all of our new furniture will be delivered and we will finish moving our stuff in, and we will spend the first night in our new house! I can’t wait.
As for this weekend, Zach and I are taking off for a fun trip to Chicago, where we will meet up with friends, go to the St. Patty’s Day parade, and attend his company’s annual awards banquet. It should be a blast. I hope you all have a great weekend, and see you back here on Monday!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
…you’re in the middle of a session with a student, and out of your mouth (and guitar) comes a complete song about playing the tambourine, perfect rhymes and all. I realized when Ryan reached “instruments” on his schedule that I hadn’t planned a song to sing while he played, preferably one that worked on directions (up and down) and speed (slow and fast). Well I guess I didn’t need to, because my magical music therapy powers did it for me on the spot :)
I actually liked the song so much that I’m going to put it in writing as soon as I finish up this post. I’ve written quite a few songs this week in preparation for March, many of which I’m excited about sharing with you all in the coming days. Stay tuned!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
It’s Friday, and you know what that means! But first I’m going to share an unprecedented Friday Worst: Laryngitis. This is perhaps the most frustrating predicament for any music therapist, teacher, or anyone who needs a voice to do his/her job. And I must be a glutton for punishment, because I get a pretty severe case of laryngitis at least once a year, rendering me pretty much useless when it comes to my work.
But I must press on, so here I am, sharing with you today’s Friday Fave: White Christmas. I’m referring to the 1954 film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen, and most notably, the music of Irving Berlin. It has been one of my favorites since I was little, and it is just as much a holiday necessity as putting up a Christmas tree in my house.
Because I’ve seen the movie more times than I can count, I can sing along with every song and even recite most of the lines. My favorites songs include “Sisters”, “Snow”, “Blue Skies”, and of course, the title song, “White Christmas”. I recently purchased the sheet music collection so now I can play and sing the tunes. The greatest thing about this movie is that the whole family can watch and enjoy it. I watched it with my family growing up, and when Zach and I start a family, it will no doubt become a tradition for us.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s edition of Friday’s Fave…now go out and sing some Christmas carols, because I sure can’t!
Can I tell you a story? It’s about a girl and her piano. The piano came long before the girl did…it belonged to her mother, and what a prized posession it was. The piano was the centerpiece of the living room, and a source of endless entertainment for the girl even when she was very little. When she turned five, her mother asked her if she’d like to take piano lessons. Of course she said yes, and so she began her first of many, many years learning to play.
