Dad had the Easy Listening Radio station on while he and Mom were trying to go to sleep one night. Finally my mother asked if he could listen to something else... perhaps an all-talk station? She explained that hearing the music compelled her to analyze the chords in every song. That made it hard for her to get to sleep.
My mother was a terrific accompanist. She had a special gift. She could play by ear. That means she could remember the chord progressions to many songs and just make up the piano part on the spot.
When she was busy accompanying Handel's "Messiah" with a community choir in Ohio in about 1972, she slid down our icy walkway on the way to the performance. She broke three fingers on her left hand. She had my dad tape up those fingers, took an aspirin, then she got in the car saying, "The show must go on."
I asked her later, "How in the world did you do it?"
She shrugged and said, "Well, once I realized that Handel was a chords guy, I just played the fundamental bass notes with my thumb and first finger. It worked okay."
My mother was a terrific accompanist. She had a special gift. She could play by ear. That means she could remember the chord progressions to many songs and just make up the piano part on the spot.
When she was busy accompanying Handel's "Messiah" with a community choir in Ohio in about 1972, she slid down our icy walkway on the way to the performance. She broke three fingers on her left hand. She had my dad tape up those fingers, took an aspirin, then she got in the car saying, "The show must go on."
I asked her later, "How in the world did you do it?"
She shrugged and said, "Well, once I realized that Handel was a chords guy, I just played the fundamental bass notes with my thumb and first finger. It worked okay."
Silly picture of Janie and Carolyn singing in their Christmas nightgowns My Mom and Aunt Janie were my idols growing up. They could sing, entertain, teach and play the piano like nobody else I knew. I always wanted to be able to do what they could do. But I never quite measured up. Maybe it was because I really didn't get the chance to play the piano much growing up, I don't know. It's probably because I was blessed with different talents.
Playing by Ear is not something I was gifted to do. Perhaps it was because I didn't apply myself enough in Ear Training class in college or just didn't lie awake at night listening to the radio and analyzing chord progressions. Oh well, (sigh).
Anyway, I know that some of the ear training took. I decided that because I am a singer first, I listen melodically instead of harmonically. I can actually figure out chord progressions, albeit slowly, and not quickly enough to play by ear on the spot... unless it's just a 3-chord song like an old folk song.
But there is a silver lining to not relying upon being able to play by ear. I learned early on to notate music so that I could play it. Even before I studied at college, if I wanted to be able to play a song on the piano, I found that if I wrote it out, I could. And then, somebody else could come along and play it, too. Yeah, I may have to resort to the "hunt and peck" method of composition, but I can still get it done!
Playing by Ear is not something I was gifted to do. Perhaps it was because I didn't apply myself enough in Ear Training class in college or just didn't lie awake at night listening to the radio and analyzing chord progressions. Oh well, (sigh).
Anyway, I know that some of the ear training took. I decided that because I am a singer first, I listen melodically instead of harmonically. I can actually figure out chord progressions, albeit slowly, and not quickly enough to play by ear on the spot... unless it's just a 3-chord song like an old folk song.
But there is a silver lining to not relying upon being able to play by ear. I learned early on to notate music so that I could play it. Even before I studied at college, if I wanted to be able to play a song on the piano, I found that if I wrote it out, I could. And then, somebody else could come along and play it, too. Yeah, I may have to resort to the "hunt and peck" method of composition, but I can still get it done!
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