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| Butterfly Landing |
| Family Instrumentalists Grandfather - bagpipes, was one of Queen Elizabeth I's pipers, gave a command performance for the queen. My first cousin's son has the pipes now. Granddaddy - harmonica - though I'm the only one who remembers. Grandmother - sang many songs that I still sing today to my grandchildren. Dad - saxophone and clarinet in high school, had a traveling band until WWII, played mostly swing and jazz, family jazz sessions were incredibly entertaining; guitar lessons at 38 Mom - classical piano for at least 10 years, advanced recitals. She gave my sister and me lessons for a while, but mostly we enjoyed listening to her play, and we were always disappointed when she stopped. I credit both of my parents for my wide range of genres I enjoy. Me - a year of piano, accordion for five years, played in school talent shows. Continued with self-taught piano - classical, pop, blues, boogie, jazz. Wish I played better. Sang in church choir for 12 years. Santa brought a violin in 2006. Hmmm. Sister - a year of piano. Organ lessons as adult. She had a bit of a knack for playing by ear. Older daughter - casual piano lessons with me, flute in elementary school for 2 years. Played a duet with teacher for band performance. Younger daughter - piano for seven years with recitals, was teaching piano in fifth grade, flute for two years in elementary school band, also played duet with teacher for band performance. Played piano for a while in high school jazz band. Took a master's class in college. The entire semester cost less than one month of lessons when she was a child...it was worth it. Girls' father - a year of trumpet; sang for years in church choir, even solo'd a few times.. Mom-in-law - played piano for herself; sang for years and years in church choir. Dad-in-law - also sang in choir for years; you could catch him singing or humming most anytime. My Guy - violin and trumpet. Aha! Free violin lessons! Son-in-law - plays guitar by ear. I'm envious. Oldest grandson - King of Everything - played the saxophone in middle school orchestra; trying drums and clarinet. Would like to try bagpipes as well.He is working with a chanter in preparation for the pipes. Older granddaughter - Princess of Quite A Lot - guitar lessons at summer camp, recorder in elementary school; and three years of bassoon in middle school. She's trying her great-grandfather's clarinet. Second grandson - Batman - decided on the viola for 5th grade school orchestra. In sixth, he tried drums. He says if you know how to play the viola, you can play the violin and the cello. Third grandson - Prince of Smiles is thinking about the saxophone. Hey! We need a clarinet for this family band! Younger granddaughter - Princess Laughs A Lot is taking casual piano lessons from me, but she hasn't fallen in love with it yet. Youngest grandson - Prince of Hearts loves to sit at the piano. He plays one or two notes at a time, listens to them before going on. I like to hear his glissandos up and down the keyboard. When his mom Lady G was working up Beethoven's "Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" for her master's class, the Littlest Prince started humming with her, which charmed all of us. |
| Jazz Links The Clubs Catalina's Steamers Jazz Bakery Blue Note Village Gate Sweet Rhythm Sweet Basil Blues Alley Yoshi's The Men Ahmad Jamal Ahmad fan site McCoy Tyner Oscar Petersen Ray Brown Gene Harris Dave Brubeck Horace Silver Jeff Hamilton Benny Green The Ladies Diane Schuur Dianne Reeves Karrin Allyson Lori Andrews Diana Krall Billie Holliday Etta James Joanne Brackeen Eliane Elias |
| Where does our love of music come from? Is it innate? Birds and whales sing, coyotes howl, geese honk, elephants trumpet, owls hoot. All I know for sure is that a day without music is like a day without breakfast - it shouldn't be skipped. Adding a musical history page for my family made sense to me, because I know nothing beyond my grandparents' generation as to how music fit into their lives. While talent skipped my generation, it didn't stop me from playing music, singing, dancing, or listening most of my life. This also works as a links page for my favorite jazz clubs and people. |
| Home Next |
| Music sites you may like for info: "Injun Summer" - poem by John McCutcheon, 1912 with music by Glenn Miller "Indian Summer" at Tuxedo Junction Americana - Songs about America and American life including most of our State Songs American and Patriotic Songbook Let's Sing It Lyrics to your favorite songs Lyrics to Love Songs Scott Joplin and Ragtime |
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| A curious music fan once asked the seasoned veteran saxophone player why he chose to make his career playing jazz.
The old pro solemnly replied, "I don't like crowds," he replied. |