Last year I did something I've wanted to do for a long time: I started taking piano lessons. I took piano off and on for about 3 or 4 years when I was a kid. I stopped taking lessons when I went into 7th grade because I was in the band and I thought it was too much to do both. But I kept playing. I've always loved playing the piano. It is a total relaxer for me. I used to play when I was stressed in high school or waiting for a date. But I'm just ok and I really don't like playing in front of other people. I had a traumatic recital experience when I was little. I was in the middle of my memorized piece and my mind just went blank. I hadn't brought the music so I just stopped and went back to my seat in the audience. I was very embarassed.
Anyway, the girls have been taking for a couple of years now from a lady in our ward. She is super nice and they love it. I also visit teach her and when she told me she was going to start teaching adults I was very tempted. When I went home and told John, he encouraged me to take them so I did. And I have LOVED it. It is the best thing I've done in years. I love practicing. I love playing. I love the techniques I'm learning. I'm learning to play a few hymns and I learned a beautiful piece for Christmas. I also learned one of the themes from the Gwynneth Paltrow "Emma". Sometimes I play for an hour a day. Sometimes when I want to yell at my kids, I just go play the piano instead.
Here's some pictures of our piano. It's about 100 years old and a little out of tune. But it has great sound, is beautiful (though well-used), and has a lot of character. My friend sold it to us really cheap probably 10 years ago. It is finally getting used. Best purchase ever!! I can honestly say that taking piano lessons has changed my life for the better and I'm grateful that I have such an awesome teacher. I think my kids are grateful I'm taking piano too. Piano music is so much better than yelling.
