Piano Teacher's Retreat » Sunday Thoughts

Archives: Personalities

admin — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 07:33:27 +0000

Do you have those students who drive you nutso? They might be a little too goofy or a bit rude or just plain weird. You know what I’m talking about, right? Do you ever feel bad because you find it’s easier to love the “normal” students? Maybe I’m the only one who feels this way (in which case, you all must think I’m a horrible horrible person right now). But I found inspiration from an article I read. A leader in my church, Joseph B. Wirthlin, had this to say about loving and accepting those who are different from us.

“The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony.”

Isn’t that just a gorgeous analogy? Every personality is important, not just the sweet little accomodating piccolos. So now when I’m having a difficult time with an obnoxious tuba or snare drum, I’ll just remember that, yes, even they add to the beauty of the world. In fact, the world would indeed be lacking without those obtrusive little buggers.

Classical Music is for Everybody

admin — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:02:19 +0000

Check out this video called “Classical Music is for Everybody,” posted by Ken at Music is Not For Insects. It’s entertaining as well as incredibly moving. My husband, who isn’t all that into classical music, loved it as well!

Touched on the Shoulder by God

admin — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 07:06:58 +0000

In “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” by John Berendt, the author comes in contact with a woman named Emma Kelly, a piano performer with the nickname of “Lady of 6,000 Songs.” She has a fabulous view of music. She said,

Someone once wrote that musicians are touched on the shoulder by God and I think it’s true. You can make other people happy with music, but you can make yourself happy too…

There’s another wonderful thing about being able to play music. It’s something Johnny Mercer told me. He said, ‘When you play songs, you can bring back people’s memories of when they fell in love. That’s where the power lies.’”

There is such a great power in music.

Jubal

admin — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 07:09:14 +0000

Have you heard of this guy? In Genesis 4:21, Jubal is introduced as

the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

I thought that was a fun Sunday tidbit!

Beautiful Hymn

admin — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 07:34:27 +0000

This hymn is not often sung, at least not in my church. One day when I was playing the organ, the chorister got the numbers mixed up and we sang this instead of a more familiar tune. The congregation stumbled through the unfamiliar words, but I grew more and more in love with each verse. I LOVE the minor key and the words are just beautiful.

Here are the words:

Lord, we come before thee now; At thy feet we humbly bow.
Do not thou our suit disdain; Shall we seek thee, Lord, in vain?
In thine own appointed way, Now we seek thee; here we stay.
Lord from hence we would not go, Till a blessing thou bestow.
Send some message from thy word That may joy and peace afford.
Comfort those who weep and mourn; Let the time of love return.
Grant we all may seek and find Thee, our gracious God, and kind.
Heal the sick, the captive free. Let us all rejoice in thee.

You can see the music and listen to the tune here:

Children’s Voices

admin — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:59:29 +0000

Yesterday, I attended a baptism for a set of twins. As part of the service, a group of children sang a song about baptism. Half of them didn’t know the words, half of them squirmed and looked at their shoes, half of them (how many halves are there?) were waving to their parents. But, honestly, it was so sweet. Isn’t there something so special about children’s voices? They brought such a great spirit to the service that a group of professional adults just wouldn’t have been able to do.