Wednesday, April 28, 2010

musically inclined

i'm grateful to come from two very musical families.  both my mother and my father's side are full of amazing musicians that i hope to someday be like!

(above, my aunt marie teaches my aunt candice violin...julie in the baby walker)

i started playing the piano at age 6 1/2.  as far as i know, i took piano lessons from my own mother for the first 3 or 4 years.  it proved to be difficult, taking piano from a parent.  having them in the same house listening to all your mistakes being made while practicing.  i recall her yelling down from upstairs that "that was wrong brooke!"  not sure where exactly it went downhill, but it did...to the point where i took from various other piano teachers, usually friends of my mom.  i recall taking from a mrs. seely and a mrs. seelly (yes, two of the same name, different spelling, although i'm not sure i'm spelling the second right) and then from wendy, my mom's adult piano student.  i took from wendy when i was in high school, after a slight sabatical from taking lessons.  we'll call that era the "jr. high" phase, cause really, that's what it was.  too much attitude, too much whining going on.  so my smart mom let me have a break.  luckily it led me straight into lessons with wendy in high school, which i finally loved! 

at that point i was starting to really enjoy the music that i was playing.  i doubt i was practicing near as much (or as well) as i should've been.  i specifically remember thinking, "gosh, i'm getting pretty good."  and really i was, for that point in my life.  i was progressing and liking my instrument more and more.  what a blessing!  if i had not ever reached that point, i may have quit and regretted it the rest of my life.  reader...if you are at that point right now in your musical existence, stop and think.  really think.  you might just be right around the corner from having that same epiphone that i had.  the one that says, 'hey, i love this!'

because i have that musical backround, i have taught myself how to play the guitar.  i have also, of recent, taken up violin...taught by my wonderful cousin kiersten.  in the future, i plan on adding a few more instruments to my repertoire...like the banjo, congo drums and the harpsichord.


4 comments:

Kierst said...

harpsichord, eh? As soon as I find room for it in my house, I get one.

flip flop mama said...

I wish my mom let me take a break. Instead it turned into 3 years of a power struggle with her still paying for lessons and me not practicing one tiny bit. I think I might have gotten back into it, had I taken a short break. Oh well..

Maren Romney said...

Small world! I don't know if you follow my rarely posted to blog, but I posted today about how I started taking violin lessons. It just proves we're friends!

Marcie said...

Go, Brooke! What talent...