Gershwin

I was never an accomplished pianist after taking piano lessons as a child.    But I loved my piano teacher, Mrs. Ruth Storts.    As an adult, I have had spells of playing the piano.   I failed to grasp the idea that "practice makes perfect."    When I couldn't play something, I felt impatient and angry and told myself other people can play so much better, why am I trying?    But one winter my friend Mary Lou, an accomplished musician, challenged me to play a duet with her.  We played "Country Gardens" for a few friends.   After many struggles, I began to see that practice truly does produce "muscle memory" or something mysterious!

Having performance anxiety, I play better when I am alone.   In January, I decided to play Gershwin.
Old Readers Digest Music Collections lent me several choices.    "The Man I Love" was pretty simple, "Summertime", a little more difficult.   Finally. . .I worked on "An American in Paris" and "Rhapsody in Blue".    I make my grandchildren listen to one selection now and then.  

Another friend, Virginia, felt she was getting forgetful.    So she chose a difficult classical piano piece and learned it.    It proved to her that her brain was still functioning fine!     Music is a gift.