Not a drummer boy, but maybe a singer/director?
I had several years of piano lessons. I obviously didn't apply myself and now, like many others who had the opportunity, regret that I didn't keep going, and keep practicing. I played the tuba for six years in Jr.High, and High School. I didn't do the traditional college thing, and as a tuba is a rather expensive instrument, didn't have one to just pick up and play. After years, I did start toying with it again, as I had a son and stepdaughter that played the tuba, so did several Tuba Christmases, and even acquired a helicon on Ebay (shipped from Lithuania).
I really didn't do any singing growing up. I remember my mother and father singing in the Stake Choir for the dedication of the Independence Stake Center by President Spencer W. Kimball. I don't remember really ever getting into singing until I went to Spain as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I had companions that played the piano, and I started to appreciate hymns. It was a way to learn Spanish, plus, maybe I had a knack for music. I even had to play the piano in one branch, as no one there did. I one handed it, and occasionally added in the bass line. My choral career as a missionary culminated in caroling in the city of Jaen with the Sister missionaries and the youth of the branch.
When I came home got involved in choir in my ward, and that was fun. By the way, basses are NOT lazy tenors.
Then I was introduced to the Mormon Chorale. I still remember that night, and being so timid about singing with so many great voices. I knew I stood among giants, and yet they seemed to be okay with me singing with them. I am glad, as ever since I have been extremely passionate about music, and church music in particular. I desperately miss singing with the Chorale, and can't wait until I return on a permanent basis, if they will have me.
Now I am not only directing a ward choir, with a Christmas program next week, but am also singing with an extremely talented group, with an orchestra in a three night Christmas program. When I hear those around me, I feel so completely inadequate. I have a feeling that maybe I do have some talent for music, and maybe even an okay voice. I also wonder at times if I have just buried that talent in the ground over the years. What if I had sang out my whole life? What if I had kept with the piano?
I sometimes feel overwhelmed with music, particularly when I am directing, or singing. Words of songs matter to me. When I direct, to me it is far more important for those singing to express through song their testimonies, rather than being technically correct. Don't get me wrong, I want that too, but in the realm of sacred texts as song, it is the spirit that counts. Singing in Messiah twice was a tremendous experience that I will never forget. Not near perfect, but...
Having said all that. I still accept nothing less than perfection from me, and I can't deliver it. And because of that, I hear those around me, and the effort they are putting in and wonder if I belong, if I should even be part of this group. All I can do is sing. And sing with spirit, and hope that is acceptable to God, because at the end of the day, it is His praises I sing.
If only I had kept up the piano.
I really didn't do any singing growing up. I remember my mother and father singing in the Stake Choir for the dedication of the Independence Stake Center by President Spencer W. Kimball. I don't remember really ever getting into singing until I went to Spain as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
I had companions that played the piano, and I started to appreciate hymns. It was a way to learn Spanish, plus, maybe I had a knack for music. I even had to play the piano in one branch, as no one there did. I one handed it, and occasionally added in the bass line. My choral career as a missionary culminated in caroling in the city of Jaen with the Sister missionaries and the youth of the branch.
When I came home got involved in choir in my ward, and that was fun. By the way, basses are NOT lazy tenors.
Then I was introduced to the Mormon Chorale. I still remember that night, and being so timid about singing with so many great voices. I knew I stood among giants, and yet they seemed to be okay with me singing with them. I am glad, as ever since I have been extremely passionate about music, and church music in particular. I desperately miss singing with the Chorale, and can't wait until I return on a permanent basis, if they will have me.
Now I am not only directing a ward choir, with a Christmas program next week, but am also singing with an extremely talented group, with an orchestra in a three night Christmas program. When I hear those around me, I feel so completely inadequate. I have a feeling that maybe I do have some talent for music, and maybe even an okay voice. I also wonder at times if I have just buried that talent in the ground over the years. What if I had sang out my whole life? What if I had kept with the piano?
I sometimes feel overwhelmed with music, particularly when I am directing, or singing. Words of songs matter to me. When I direct, to me it is far more important for those singing to express through song their testimonies, rather than being technically correct. Don't get me wrong, I want that too, but in the realm of sacred texts as song, it is the spirit that counts. Singing in Messiah twice was a tremendous experience that I will never forget. Not near perfect, but...
Having said all that. I still accept nothing less than perfection from me, and I can't deliver it. And because of that, I hear those around me, and the effort they are putting in and wonder if I belong, if I should even be part of this group. All I can do is sing. And sing with spirit, and hope that is acceptable to God, because at the end of the day, it is His praises I sing.
If only I had kept up the piano.
Comments
Post a Comment