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My mother played piano and taught me and my four siblings how to play.This was all well and good because it gave me a background to keep pursuing music and gave me an appreciation for the arts, specifically music.
I spent many late nights at the local community symphony with my mom since no one else wanted to go with her. I felt cultured listening to local musicians play Bach and Beethoven, and I was enthralled with how old the music was and it was still beautiful.
I was always jealous of the violin players and wished I could learn violin or another string instrument.
But my high school didn't have a symphony; we only had marching and concert band and no string instruments were included. I became proficient at the clarinet and entertained ideas of learning jazz music to rival Pete Fountain. But this dream mostly consisted of just listening to his albums, given to me by my dad.
Jazz music kept me close to the South when I moved to Utah for school. It was familiar; I'd walked down Beale Street in Memphis, after all, and felt the energy of the street music scene.
Without music I wouldn't know how to define myself. I love music that makes me move, usually to a fast or thumping beat. I don't move very prettily, but I move. Music gets into me and I get a little obsessed. I am obsessed with fiddle music right at the moment. Celtic and Bluegrass tunes make me want to tap my toes and dance along. I am getting better, and while not Pete Fountain on the clarinet or Harry Connick, Jr. on the piano, I may just get some satisfaction out of playing rousing music on my violin.
I can completely relate to your love of music. Like you, my mom also taught me piano from a young age and practically raised me on music. Everyone in my family plays something. My Dad plays trombone, my oldest brother plays viola and guitar, my next oldest brother plays trumpet, my younger brother plays stand up bass and guitar bass. My mom, though, plays piano, violin, guitar, organ, frenchhorn, cello and pretty much every instrument imaginable. I suggest you follow your passion of music as far as you possibly can because in the end doing what you love makes all the difference. I know that from watching my mom as an example. She has followed her dream of music as a music teacher, accompanist, church musician, and composer and I have never seen a happier or more positive woman.
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