In pace
I just got an email with the news that my first piano teacher died.
I doubt there was any musician in Eastern Iowa (and beyond!) who she did not touch somehow. What an energetic, generous, caring teacher!
Going to her house was extremely memorable. Walking up the sidewalk with big trees in the front yard (crunching leaves in the fall, treading carefully around icy patches in the winter). She had a big porch and in the summer had huge hanging baskets of impatiens (or were they geraniums?). At the end of the porch was the perfect porch swing on which to sit and dream while my friend finished her lesson. Inside was an entry way with a bench facing sliding wooden doors, which opened between lessons to reveal two Steinway grand pianos side by side. The one of the right sitting next to the big picture window was for the students.
She taught me solid musicianship and was sensitive to my burgeoning interests. It's thanks to her that I play the piano in church every Sunday.
My last year of highschool, my class had our Christmas party in Independence. Restless, we decided to walk around and carol at everyone's house we knew. We came to her house and sang "O Jesu sweet" by Bach in perfect 4 part harmony. She was thrilled: "I've never had carolers sing in 4 part harmony before!"
One year she had a piano trio come for an evening. She invited a bunch of us music students from Cono. We sat on the stairs and afterwards had pizza and enjoyed lively conversaton.
My last lesson with her, and probably the last time I ever saw her, we played a piece by Chopin for two pianos. I didn't play it great, but we got the point across and had a lot of fun.