. . .

have i ever told you about Grandmother Mayne (technically speaking, she’d be Emma and Olivia’s great-great-great-grandmother), who was a conservatory-trained pianist? what about PG, my great-grandmother, who met my great-grandfather while they were performing in travelling Vaudeville shows (she was the pianist)? surely i’ve mentioned my Aunt Bernie, who even in her mid-90′s could play stride piano like i’ve only dreamed of. i may have told you that Aunt Donna plays by ear, has perfect pitch and makes it look easy. and really…you MUST know that my mom was a church organist for years and has always shown me firsthand that the whole point in playing the piano is to have fun.

we always had a piano in the house, even when we didn’t have much else. we started piano lessons at age 7, and although i’ve never been that good, i love playing. i really believe that reading music is a skill every child should be exposed to, and i’m so grateful to have been indoctrinated in this way.

i watch these girls at the piano with their grandma, my mom. i watch these girls climb up and pretend to play on their own, turning pages and moving their fingers across individual notes (never banging). i watch these girls respond to the music, and i see that it’s a gift. it’s a gift to pass it through the generations; an honor and a responsibility. i look at them, together, and i know that as the years go by, making music with grandma and with each other (and yes, with me too) will become strong and happy memories.

because we have fun. and everybody’s good enough. and everybody sings along.

. . .