Music in the House

 Music in the House

     Here is an idea I considered when my children were small. In proportion to how much music, literature, poetry and art make up a lifestyle they will seem less like school. They will be part of living "the educational life." This was one of my aims in teaching within a home setting. After all, music is music. It really isn't a school subject. It is fine to make it a school subject. But let's remember, too, that literature is literature, poetry is poetry and art is art.

"Christian homes should not be places where nothing but a bit of sentimental or romantic music is heard, but places where there is the greatest variety of good music, so that the natural talent may find the necessary spark to set it on fire." Edith Schaeffer

     I reference Edith Schaeffer's Hidden Art of Homemaking because to her, music is part of homemaking. I like this idea. Do you find it interesting, too? Her music chapter is early in the book. In it she encourages the family to listen to good music in the home, to play it together on their musical instruments, to make a joyful noise to the Lord together, and also to invite friends to play on their instruments with hospitality.

Six Pieces of One Composer

     A rule of thumb for putting students in touch with the music of the great classical composers is this: Choose at least six of a composer's pieces. Repeated listening of one composer a semester is recommended. In this way children will get to know a composer, become familiar with his style and recognize his signature sound. This rule of thumb leaves room for adaptations outside a classroom. Casual listening in the car while commuting thirty minutes to town was an adaptation of ours while living in Oregon, Maryland, and then Maine. Music was also heard at the kitchen table while children drew, while folding clothes, doing dishes, or resting on the sofa with a head cold to "feel better" - or simply welcomed as a "down-time" activity on Sunday.

     Dad was frequently at the helm in introducing music in the house. One of his hobbies is listening to a large variety, old and new. He occasionally plays old record albums and holds the opinion that music sounds best on vinyl. Contemporary Christian music was Dad's choice in the car to and from church. Mom might read a hymn story during the week and teach the words of some favorites.

     Along with music appreciation, when each of our children reached the age of twelve he or she was offered private lessons on a musical instrument. They each took hold of the opportunity. Daily practice and all their years of prior listening helped blossom talent – just as Edith Schaeffer claims. It plucks this mother's heartstrings (a pun, because I cannot play an instrument) that although our adult children, Sophia, Yolanda and Nigel, attend different churches they each take part in Sunday worship on violin, cello, and piano.

 An Interview

     Today's post is an interview with our married daughters. Sophia is married to Andrew. 

     Yolanda is wife to Daniel.

     You are invited to visit their websites linked below. Let's talk to Yolanda. Being that she is the second child and literary plays "second fiddle" we'll talk to her first just to shuffle the order of things. 

     Yolanda, what are your earliest memories of music in the house?

     I listened to lots of classical-style music when I was little. One early memory comes to mind when I was feeling sad. Our hamster died. I hid inside the curtains. Dad had on a favorite album of his called "Secret Garden" by Rolf Lovland and I remember listening to it from my hiding spot and sympathizing with the beautiful sadness of the violin and piano. It is a favorite of mine still today and I can see how the sad melodies in that album have influenced some of the instrumentals I've written.

     Another memory I have is a cassette tape of classical guitar music. I don't know how often I played that tape while I did my math, but I'm convinced it helped me to concentrate.

     What are your early thoughts of the cello?

     We had a recording of "Beauty and the Beast" that I listened to frequently as a little girl. There is one part in particular where a cello plays a solo line above the orchestra in sad lament. I remember thinking it was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever heard. When I was 12, Mom asked me if I would like to learn the cello. I said yes. All I knew was that it was different than my big sister's violin (so it would be my own) and that I liked the sound. Little did I know how very thankful I would be years later for my mother's suggestion.

     Does this instrument require lots of practice?

     Yes. For the first few years my upper back hurt when I practiced longer than a half hour. Dad took me to the chiropractor. The doctor told me I had a knot in my upper right shoulder blade area. He said it was similar to the knot a golfer gets because both cellists and golfers work one side of their bodies more than the other. Although my back doesn't bother me much anymore, my fingers get sore after about two or three hours of performing, but the joy I receive and try to give to others is definitely worth it.

     How did you like growing up playing music with your big sister?

     I loved being able to grow up playing music with Sophia. I remember the first time we played a duet together in church. I was nervous. But since we chose a simple hymn it went well, which gave me confidence. Recently, Sophia and I performed for a wedding at Franklin and Marshal College in a pretty old chapel with rich acoustics. The sound of our instruments together was lovely. We can quarrel - just a little - when we rehearse, but when we perform our music has a special harmony and flow. I guess it's all part of being sisters.

Playing for an outdoor wedding 

     Has listening to music influenced your playing?

     For Christmas one year Dad bought me a set of Jacqueline DuPre's best cello recordings. She had a romantic influence in her interpretations that has had a decided influenced in my own style.

     Did you like your cello teacher back in Maine?

     I really enjoyed lessons with my cello teacher Mr. Myers. He inspired me to keep learning, enjoyed conversation and taught me many of the favorite cello pieces I play today. What I looked forward to the most in our lessons were the duets we played together. I try and emulate many of the same traits when I teach - including the duets. When Daniel and I drove from our home in Pennsylvania up to Maine on a short holiday, we bumped into Mr. Myers in a café near Bar Harbor. Here is a photograph of us enjoying the very pleasant surprise.

     I gave all my children, at once, a penalty for an "attitude," back when you were in your early teens. I've forgotten the offense (you were mostly good children) but I do remember I was upset when I decreed, "No music in this house for a week."

     Grounded from music? Oooh.....that was not the penalty we wanted to receive. How the week dragged on. But I think the next day you said the only music we were allowed was the music we created ourselves. We didn't have much choice but to get out the instruments.

     What kind of music do you listen to now that you are mistress of your own?

home?

     I enjoy a wide variety. Dan and I put on Glen Miller's band from the 1940s while we cook Italian for dinner. I listen to Steven Curtis Chapman while I drive. His "Beauty Will Rise" is uplifting. A country song, every now and then, and a good Moody Blues tune are also enjoyed. On Youtube, I watch The Piano Guys - contemporary favorites arranged for piano and cello. Soundtracks are frequent choice. Howard Shore's score to "The Lord of the Rings," and Patrick Doyle's score to "Sense and Sensibility" are often heard around in our house.

     My last question is, what music projects are in the works?

     My journey with music has brought me to composition. Although I only write in a small way, each melody that stays with me represents another step in this journey.

     Being a Tolkien fan I enjoy the beauty of the Professor's writing and poetry. One day, reading through the poem, "The Horse and the Rider" I took my guitar and wrote a simple melody to fit the words. I try to capture the essence of Tolkien's words in a way that blesses the listener.

     

Sophia, how did you get started?

     As long as I can remember I've wanted to play the violin. I will never forget the day Mom handed me a slip of paper with a telephone number on it. "This is the number of a violin teacher," she said. "If you truly want lessons you will call her." I had never called anyone other than friends or family before and my hands shook as I punched in the number. This proved to her how much I truly wanted to play. 

     You started later than most of the other students who attended the group class yet seemed unperturbed at this.

     I still chuckle when I picture myself towering above the students in the group class - probably the only time I have ever "towered" in my life, he,he. I don't remember feeling perturbed at being the oldest. Perhaps this was because I was the oldest child in our family and often the oldest in my group of friends. I was not jealous of the young violinists who were ahead of me in the Suzuki books. Rather, I was inspired.

     Many Suzuki students begin lessons at age 4 or 5. Although I was 12 I do not believe this set me back. Now, being a Suzuki teacher myself and looking through a teacher's eyes, I've seen that what takes a 4 year-old a year to learn can be covered in a couple of weeks at age 12.

Sophia "towering" in the middle, 1994 "Old Fashioned Day"

     You had attended only few live concerts. What did you think of them?

     When we attend the Rockport Opera House in Maine it was fantastic to see and hear real musicians play in person. Hearing Vivaldi's "Four Season" by the Portland Symphony was a treat. While most of the Opera House visits were treasured I do recall one particular occasion I did not enjoy. A quartet upbraided our ears with a modern atonal composition that included startling yelps and barking sounds out of the mouths of the musicians.

     Does classical music help you keep pop music in perspective?

     While I do enjoy the occasional current pop tune the lyrics are more often raunchy than not. For my boys classical music or the Christian radio is a more edifying option. I like to play Bach after breakfast. Four-year-old William and I dance around the living room while baby Joseph waves his sticky hands to the rhythm from the safety of his high chair. Yesterday William laid his head on my shoulder as we swayed to a sonata. It will remain a treasured memory. It is rare that he stays still long enough anymore.

     What music did you grow up hearing?

     Mother taught us about the classical composers and Christian hymns while also enjoying John Denver. Father was known for the Moody Blues, Bread, Enya, Andrew Lloyd Weber, The Beatles, George Gershwin, Riders in the Sky, The Three Tenors, Silly Wizard, (Celtic), movie scores, and many others. I had a well-rounded exposure. 

     Just yesterday a friend wanted to know what was the first CD I owned. How could I forget "Mad About Violin," a Christmas gift from Dad?

     Ministering with your violin has been a special Christian part of your life since you were a teen. What gave you the idea to start the singing group "By the Power of His Love" in the church in Maine?

     Mom got me started almost as soon I could play my first song, using my violin to minister. It began with playing "Ash Grove" for nursing homes, my knees shaking and hands sweating. I don't remember how I began playing for church but I still play to this day. Playing for others has helped develop my skill for improvisation and playing with other instruments. 

The group is being silly holding all the wrong instruments. Our girls are on the far left.

     Our little church in Maine had a sweet group of home-educated young people with varying talents. After church service the young ladies often gathered around the piano. While Pastor's son played we would sing. We were eventually overheard by the grown-ups and asked to sing a special song for church. We enjoyed making music together so much that we formed a small group. We traveldc to other churches in the area and farther away as word-of-mouth spread. Pastor drove us in the van as far as Canada. We ministered with a set of praise songs, with instrumentals and personal testimonies. My fondest memory of these concerts is when I saw a young man being accompanied out of the sanctuary during a song. We were later told he had given his life to Christ that night.

     Before leaving Maine our group would meet together in a recording studio built in an unlikely spot – an old chicken barn – where we made a CD – a souvenir.

     In Maine you taught 30 students. Where you live now it's a different story isn't it?

     Teaching 30 students in rural Maine was a wonderful experience. I was one of two teachers in a 70-mile radius. Here in crowded Baltimore, Maryland when I was first married, I tried for a job at a music store near our one bedroom apartment. I was turned away for my lack of a music degree. My years of experience made little difference. Through a family connection on my husband's side, I found a teaching position at a music school. The owner was a divorce lawyer who had hated the job so much that he quit and started a music school. He said I was just what he was looking for. In his opinion a teaching degree does not necessarily make a good teacher. Of course I respect and admire those who have worked hard for one. 

     With two little boys keeping me on my toes I've taken on only a few students that come to the house. I look forward to teaching more and playing for more weddings with my sister as the boys grow up. This is the beauty of playing an instrument. You can use it in various ways throughout your life in whatever stage of the journey you walk. Mom, thank you for making me practice!

All the photographs of strings are taken by Sophia.

     Yolanda and Sophia, thank-you for doing the interview for my blog friends. It sets me walking down memory lane. I enjoyed being your mommy when you were my little girls. It's been rewarding to watch your journey through a beautiful girlhood into womanhood.

"Happy Birthday, Sophia." 

(She turns 30 today. When she was a 2-year-old I became interested in home education. My, the years do fly.)

http://yolandamott.weebly.com/projects.html

http://sophiaenglar.com/

Thanks for visiting, 

Karen Andreola