Many composers discover their ability to write music in their early years. Some have musical parents and teachers who recognize their gifts and supervise their educational paths. They may study piano from childhood. They may be involved in orchestras or band ensembles from Elementary school on. They may have early opportunities to get recognized for their genius. (We all know the greats...)
Then there are other composers who find out later in life that they have a desire and innate ability to write music. They may even arrive at the idea that they are composers accidentally.
Then there are other composers who find out later in life that they have a desire and innate ability to write music. They may even arrive at the idea that they are composers accidentally.
Carolyn Thompson Lee My mother was a very talented singer and pianist. She was always rehearsing, performing, and teaching. She grew up in a very musical family out in the isolated ranch lands of southern Idaho. The way my grandmother guaranteed that her children would develop their musical gifts was to lock the piano. Naturally, they all learned to pick the lock, play the piano, and sing. (Reverse psychology?) They didn't get the chance to have any lessons until they went to college. Still, some became celebrated Opera singers and musicians anyway.
Lee Family in about 1966 Growing up in a musical family, my mom just assumed that her children would have musical gifts, too. My mother's method of employing reverse psychology was to make it nearly impossible for any of us children to practice playing the piano. She taught 30 students a week, plus her own rehearsing. The piano was occupied nearly every moment that we were home from school and not sleeping.
Mom often told me that if I couldn't pick up playing piano by OSMOSIS, then I was no daughter of hers. Sure, I knew where the notes were, but I rarely got any practice time on the piano. So, I decided that I would be a singer. That way, I carried my instrument with me wherever I went.
We all had natural abilities to sing. Beyond singing, my three brothers and one little sister decided to play band instruments. (Very sensible of them.) Our mother groomed me and Barbara as singers. I could sing high and Barbara could sing any low notes --- lower than our brothers when we were young. (That was extremely valuable to our mother when we sang as a family.)
Mom often told me that if I couldn't pick up playing piano by OSMOSIS, then I was no daughter of hers. Sure, I knew where the notes were, but I rarely got any practice time on the piano. So, I decided that I would be a singer. That way, I carried my instrument with me wherever I went.
We all had natural abilities to sing. Beyond singing, my three brothers and one little sister decided to play band instruments. (Very sensible of them.) Our mother groomed me and Barbara as singers. I could sing high and Barbara could sing any low notes --- lower than our brothers when we were young. (That was extremely valuable to our mother when we sang as a family.)
Cornerstone Band about 1975
I struggled to learn piano skills through college. I even played keyboads in a dance band. (In this picture I held a flute only because I couldn't carry my keyboard up the mountainside.) But it wasn't until after I got married that I developed any real piano proficiency. My in-laws gave me a piano that became my muse and confidant for next 31 years. I found that I had to actually accompany my voice students, so I did a lot of practicing.
Bailey kids singing about 1991 I also directed church choirs and led the music in Primary. I became known for being able to "fix" the music so that whatever group was singing would sound good. (Transpose, add parts, rearrange the parts, add accompaniment, etc.) I directed Roadshows, Youth Standard Night musicals, Primary Presentations, Talent Shows, and even a Broadway Musical or two. Then once my kids got into school, I started doing Holiday Shows there. (In California, there was no music in the schools, so we were "volunteered.") I had to do a lot of "fixing" music during those years.
After a while, I noticed the growing stack of original music on my piano --- choral arrangements, Christmas songs, vocal solos, and such. "Huh," I said to myself, "maybe I'm a composer." It took me a while to figure that out, but it was good to know.
Sometimes we get to where we were meant to be by accident.
After a while, I noticed the growing stack of original music on my piano --- choral arrangements, Christmas songs, vocal solos, and such. "Huh," I said to myself, "maybe I'm a composer." It took me a while to figure that out, but it was good to know.
Sometimes we get to where we were meant to be by accident.
"Forget Me Not, O Lord" SSATB is one of my favorite original chorals. Enjoy!
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