A Musical Tradition

A friend asked me today what I was doing special for this Memorial Day Weekend. I really have no special plans, but have thought about going to the local parade on Monday just to see the high school marching band.

That simple remark led to quite a discussion of musical talents within my family. It is an inherit trait that comes from both sides of my family. I started learning to play piano when I was 5 years old. The piano was sitting in the middle of the living room as wallpaper was being stripped from the walls. My dad was my teacher. I've mentioned before his musical talents. In 5th grade we could start learning a musical instrument. I started with the clarinet. I used my Aunt Millie's one piece silver clarinet. I played that clear through high school. In the 8th grade, my band director asked me to learn to play the bassoon as he needed a bassoonist for the high school band. I really did enjoy that instrument. In high school, I was in marching band, concert band, and the orchestra. In marching band, I played either the clarinet or the glockenspiel that you carried in front of you.

I had two sisters and one brother. My sisters were taught piano, but they never really enjoyed it. My brother was also taught to play piano and he has used it much more. One sister learned to play the trumpet, one sister played the violin and flute, and my brother played trumpet, guitar, and keyboards.

My mother also had musical talents in that she had learned to play the piano enough to get by with. She also had played the violin.

My mother's mother was also a piano player and had played the violin. She had bought her violin from a Sear's catalog in the early 1900's. That violin was used by my mother, my sister, my daughter, and my grandchildren! It has a lovely tone to it and is considered a 3/4 size violin. My grandmother was also ahead of her time as she played in a small dance band with 3 guys! How progressive she was.

I had one daughter that played violin and drums (she was also in the marching band), one daughter played violin and clarinet, but stuck with the violin for high school, and my son had different musical talents in that he played the radio.

My husband played the accordion. Some years, we were able to play Christmas music together as a family with some of the simpler Carols.

My father's family line is reported to have been a very musical family with many playing different kinds of instruments to fine singers. This is documented back to at least my 3rd if not 4th great-grandfathers.

Yes, I just may go watch the parade on Monday!