My family moved from Massachusetts to Florida in 1978. I was 12 years old. In the cool evenings we heard the most beautiful piano music coming in through the windows. A woman was playing the piano in the house behind ours.
Once we settled in, I started babysitting for families on my street. I met the lady who played the piano. She needed a babysitter for her 7-year-old daughter, and I wanted piano lessons. So, we traded piano lessons for babysitting services.
There was a problem. I didn’t have a piano.
Once again, I used my bartering skills. I attended a little church down the road. I asked if I could sweep the hallway in return for piano practice time in the sanctuary. Most days I would practice after school.
After a year of lessons, the lady in the house behind us moved away.
My next piano teacher was Mrs. Tremper. She was nice and patient. I enjoyed three years of her teaching and guidance.
I stopped taking piano lessons, but I continued playing the piano. Then, in my 40’s I decided to pursue lessons, again. I returned to college. Even though I was an English major, I took piano lessons from a professor in the music department.
I didn’t enjoy piano lessons at first. She said I had many bad habits with my fingering. After a few semesters, I developed better technique. Piano lessons became times of musical growth for me.
One semester, I took a journalism class. I interviewed my music professor. She told me teaching piano to students is like planting seeds. Some seeds grow into strong plants. Other seeds fall into the cracks and never grow into a plant at all.
She thought of herself as planting the seeds of music. Some people will grow into strong musicians. The piano teacher’s job is only to plant the seeds.
This reminds me of the Parable of the Sower. Some seeds fall by the wayside. Other seeds yield a crop and grow toward the sun. It is only our job to plant the seeds.
Today, I am grateful for the piano teachers I’ve had. My hands glide onto the keys. Hopefully, I’ve grown into a strong musician.
It all started one day in Florida when the most beautiful piano music came in through the windows at the back of our house.
Lisa Lerman is a pianist and writer who lives in New Bedford, Massachusetts. lisalerman.blog
