Original oil painting by: Grandfather’s wife
Grandfather says years ago, Grandmother taught piano in the living room. She was, among other things, a model of deportment for the children.
Well, one evening we were enjoying a pitcher of beer and a giant pizza at Pizza hut, when in walked a family including one of Grandmother’s students.
“Oh what will they think of the piano teacher, sitting here with a whole pitcher of beer?” she said.
“I’ll take care of it,” Grandfather replied. He said that a lot, in those days — his performance: variable.
West Virginians have a saying: “I’m ’bout half,” which means “I’m not at my best.”
So, as they left, Grandfather announced: “Don’t worry. We’re each ’bout half, so she’ll steer and I’ll work the pedals.”
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About the Author: RD Blakeslee is an octogenarian from West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.
Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family
I’m sure Grandmother really appreciated that comment. More likely than not, the student’s parents were less concerned than she was.
Well, let’s just say Grandmother was used to Grandfathers fixes.
And you’re right – The parents got a laugh out of the situation – not concerned at all.
Grandmother taught piano, off and on, for about thirty years.
She also took it upon herself to introduce her students (and our children) to literature from an earlier age, which was, and is, unfashionable in current pedagogy.
Grimm’s Fairy Tales, for example.
Lo and behold, the children understand very well what the pedagogues don’t: The difference between fantasy and life. They were not “terrified” by them at all.
Grandmother also knew how to lead children into more intellectual forms of music.
Depending on a child’s initial interest: For example, simplified forms of “The Pink Panther” or the latest movie or country and Western pieces preceded the Bach inventions.
… and she taught quite a few adult women how to play four-part hymns for their churches.
For many years, Grandmother did the piano accompaniment for the town’s Christmas cantata.
The cantata ended when its singers were declining and Grandmother’s advancing dementia disabled her.
Recently, the cantata leader and her husband were killed in a motorcycle accident. Life happens and it ends.
Your comment, “Don’t worry. Were each bout half, so shell steer and Ill work the pedals, reminds me of how we both felt/feel about the organ! I’ll take the manuals, you take the pedals. HaHa!
When your Mom was in college she took a course in organ and had a tough time with the pedal board …
She used the stops to double the base notes down in the pedal range, to “fake” the pedal notes.