Many of us are of an age to spend time thinking about times gone by. We often marvel at how the days may seem slow, but the years go by so quickly. Just a few days ago, one of my daughters was saying this very thing. She can't believe how busy their family is during this season with rehearsals, concerts, shows, matches, games, and even auditions for future events. (Understandable. She does have 8 children.) How will it all be accomplished? In her household, they must divide and conquer. Not everyone can go support everything, but they try to do what they can.
Here in my sphere, I am trying to go to as many of my grandkids performances as I can. Sometimes my own rehearsals and performances get in the way. I am happy when my children come support me in my concerts, too. Christmas is just a busy time. But I wouldn't have it any other way.
Thinking back on the earliest memories I have of performing in Christmas shows, I have to thank my mother and Aunt Janie Thompson. My mother had me singing on shows since I was a toddler. But they were simple affairs, mostly at Church or in homes. Apparently I had to have a stage and a costume. In our living room, the coffee table was my stage and I would only perform wearing my "fluffly" white petticoat. Sometimes Mom would pin decorations on it such as little snowflakes or hearts or shamrocks or something to match the holiday, then I would sing my songs.
By the time I was four Janie decided that I could be on her shows. Janie was constantly being asked to provide entertainment, especially at Christmastime, for social gatherings all over the place. Performances were in fancy homes or well decorated halls or office buildings. She usually worked with BYU college students, but many would go home for the holidays, so she had to get more creative with who would be in her shows. She often created numbers for her family members to fill out the ranks of her performers. It was especially exciting when we would go do a show for the General Authorities of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City.
Here in my sphere, I am trying to go to as many of my grandkids performances as I can. Sometimes my own rehearsals and performances get in the way. I am happy when my children come support me in my concerts, too. Christmas is just a busy time. But I wouldn't have it any other way.
Thinking back on the earliest memories I have of performing in Christmas shows, I have to thank my mother and Aunt Janie Thompson. My mother had me singing on shows since I was a toddler. But they were simple affairs, mostly at Church or in homes. Apparently I had to have a stage and a costume. In our living room, the coffee table was my stage and I would only perform wearing my "fluffly" white petticoat. Sometimes Mom would pin decorations on it such as little snowflakes or hearts or shamrocks or something to match the holiday, then I would sing my songs.
By the time I was four Janie decided that I could be on her shows. Janie was constantly being asked to provide entertainment, especially at Christmastime, for social gatherings all over the place. Performances were in fancy homes or well decorated halls or office buildings. She usually worked with BYU college students, but many would go home for the holidays, so she had to get more creative with who would be in her shows. She often created numbers for her family members to fill out the ranks of her performers. It was especially exciting when we would go do a show for the General Authorities of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City.
She first put me in a children's trio with two other kids, Tanya and Cory. They were older and taller than little me. I remember standing eye-level to the keyboard while Janie taught us the songs at her piano. She told me to watch her little finger on her right hand and sing those notes. So I did. I remember we were learning her arrangement of "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and I needed to sing the harmony part above the melody. We learned our 3 or 4 songs and sang them all over the place that Christmas and other Christmases as part of Janie's larger shows. It was so exciting. (By then I would agree to wear dresses as costumes.)
Those were such formative days for me. Performing became just a part of my life. I don't remember ever being afraid. I loved the lights, the music, the energy in the rooms, the applause, and the excitement of just being able to sing those wonderful songs. I am so grateful for people who believed in me and for all the music in my life!
Here's one of the songs we sang on shows, "The Christmas Alphabet." We sang it as a trio back in the early 1960's. This recording was of my family and our friends and children singing my arrangement for SATB and children in 2006 for a show at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitor's Center.
Those were such formative days for me. Performing became just a part of my life. I don't remember ever being afraid. I loved the lights, the music, the energy in the rooms, the applause, and the excitement of just being able to sing those wonderful songs. I am so grateful for people who believed in me and for all the music in my life!
Here's one of the songs we sang on shows, "The Christmas Alphabet." We sang it as a trio back in the early 1960's. This recording was of my family and our friends and children singing my arrangement for SATB and children in 2006 for a show at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitor's Center.
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