I have so many wonderful memories of growing up with
music. One of my very first musical memories
is of my Grandmother Helen playing the piano.
My sister and I called her “Nana”, and we loved her so. I
remember Nana playing the piano so gracefully as her fingernails clicked away
on the keyboard. To this day I’m
not sure what excited me more…Nana’s music or her nails! My grandparents had purchased their piano in
1942, and at the same time, purchased an identical twin piano which they gave to
my parents. I learned how to play on our
twin and dreamed of playing as well as Nana.
Nana died when I was 14.
My parents brought her twin piano to our house and the two pianos sat
side by side in the living room. I know
Nana was smiling down on us when our family of 4 sat side by side playing duets
on the pianos. Throw in my sister’s
flute and my violin and we had a real family band!
Many years later, when I was grown and had
moved to California, Nana’s piano was passed down to me. It would be hard to imagine a gift more
meaningful. Our family piano would now
touch a fourth generation as our children Jacob and Sara learned to play on
their great grandmother’s piano.
Every song I have written has been at that piano, and I
think a little part of Nana is in all of my music. It is another beautiful full circle in our
family.
