The Early Piano Lessons

For many years my grandparents lived in a house that was closer to a shack than a house by most standards. It had been built during the depression with whatever materials could be found available on the family farm. I don't remember them living there myself but I do remember visiting it once, before it was demolished and the new house was built in its place.

The new house wasn't particularly special; it was a typical ranch style with 3 bedrooms, family room separated from the kitchen by a huge bar complete with a bunch of stools and a formal living room at the front of the house. It was that living room that held very special memories for me. Grandma and Grandpa didn't normally use the living room; all of the entertaining was done in the kitchen and family room area.

The first time I remember spending time in the living room was one weekend I had gone to spend a few days with my grandparents, alone, just me and them which always meant special treatment. On this particular night we had eaten dinner and cleaned up afterwards. Grandma announced she thought we needed to set in the living room for awhile before bed time. I know my eyes must have gotten as big as saucers because we had never done that before.

I followed Grandma to the living room where she removed covers from the sofa and chairs. Grandpa followed us but went straight to the piano. He pulled out the bench and sat to one end of it at the same time patting the seat cushion next to him and saying, "Faith come set here beside me." I was thrilled at the thought of setting next to Grandpa as he played and quickly took my spot.

Grandma sat on the sofa nearby and directed Grandpa to teach me something. I couldn't believe my ears. I had never played a musical instrument of any kind and here they wanted me to play the piano that sat in front of Grandpa and I. Grandpa started to play a song I'd never heard before. I liked the sound of it and the house was filled with the cheery tune.

As I watched Grandpa's fingers move across the piano keys I tried my best to picture myself doing the same thing but didn't succeed. There was no way I could ever do what my Grandfather was doing. About that time Grandpa stopped playing and smiling down at me and said, "Ok, I need your help with this."

Grandpa took my small hands in his and placed them on the piano keys, just two fingers, my pointers on the white ivory of the keys. I didn't understand Grandpa was using all ten of his fingers. Grandpa must have seen my confusion because in his laughing voice he said, "That's all you need for this song."

Chop Sticks! That was the name of the song I was about to learn. Grandpa proceeded guide my fingers on the keys, moving them from one set to the next. We must have spent an hour or more going over and over the same thing all the time Grandma setting on the sofa watching and smiling. Then came the moment Grandpa said I was ready to do it alone, take my time, don't worry about how fast I was doing it.

I went through the song once and out of the corner of my eye I saw Grandpa raise his hands to the keys at the other end of the piano. In time with my playing Grandpa started to play at the same time. All the time smiling he said, "That's why I needed your help, it's called a duet and that means it takes two people to play the song the way it should be played."

Grandpa and I must have played the song twenty times when Grandma announced, "I think it's time for Heart and Soul." I had no idea what she was talking about but shortly learned it was another song, another duet and the same as with Chop Sticks Grandpa guided me through the second song.

It wasn't that same night but within the next few days Grandpa taught me the other end, the part he had played that first night, of both songs. After that I must have drove Grandma and Grandpa crazy. Any free minute I could find I wanted to play the piano with Grandpa. One day when Grandpa was gone Grandma commented that I looked bored.

I was but what I really wanted to do was play the piano. Grandma must have read my mind because she quickly responded, "Come on, lets play the piano for a little bit." I followed Grandma into the living room and just like Grandpa the first night she pulled out the piano bench but then asked me which end I wanted. I wasn't sure what to say but pointed to the left side of the piano and said I liked that end.

Grandma sat down on the other end of the bench and told me to start. As I played the first note Grandma joined in and not missing a note she played the other end of not one but both songs. I was amazed, until that time I didn't realize that Grandma could play the piano too. Grandma as usual knew what I was thinking and told me she teaches all the time she just thought it would be nice for Grandpa to teach the piano.

When Grandpa returned home I ran to the driveway before he was even out of his truck to tell him the news. "Grandma and I played the piano while you were gone, she's really good but I still like playing with you too Grandpa."

Some years later I learned that Grandpa played the piano by ear - he would listen to a song and then play it. Grandma on the other hand read music and the 3 of us spent hours and hours taking turns playing that piano in the living room when no one else was around.