The Power of Music Keeps Me Young.

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Now, I am learning to play the piano.

Lesley Dewar is over 80 now and learning to play the piano.

Music has always been in my life

Although I have never been a musician or a good singer, I adore music. For as long as I can remember, there has always been music in my home and life. But no piano.

My early childhood memories include being allowed to stay up late at our parents’ parties — provided we kept the grammaphone wound up. We also had to play the 78s in the right order, as stacked up by our Mum or Auntie Rita.

It was an important job when you were only 7 or 8 years old. My brother Richard was 3 years younger and he too remembered it well.

It was almost as important as being able to keep score in a cricket book. 🏏 I learned that when I was 8!

High School Concerts Left Me Wanting.

I so badly wanted to sing. So desperately wanted to voice those poignant words, and stir hearts.

It was never to be.

In my last year of high school, the end of year stage production was Mozart’s ‘The Music Flute.’

I knew every word. Every role. But the back row in the chorus, making up the numbers, with my white, off the shoulder, peasant blouse, and my decorative skirt was as much as I was permitted.

I can sing but never learned how to hold the key.

Something In My Genes Was Passed On.

My lovely daughter Annette sang like an angel. From early days in preschool until her death in her mid-30s, Annette was always singing, dancing, and on the stage.

From being a “little teapot short and stout” to the lead in a musical show, she not only had my skill in remembering the words and music, but she vocalised beautifully.

She was a formidable actress, too. Drama and comedy both.

She stole the show in ‘Jack the Ripper,’ playing a scrawny old prostitute and coming right up to the edge of the stage. We were in fits of laughter!

At the Old Mill Theatre in South Perth. We had a pre-show dinner at The Windsor across the road.

Her sister-in-law, Lisa, sings, plays guitar 🎸, and regularly appears in stage plays. She is married to my elder son.

My two sons and I describe ourselves as “contract audience” — and we love it. It means we have all enjoyed theatre and music together as a family for many years.

Photo by Cody Board on Unsplash

Live Concerts Are Our Jam.

Being there! Feeling the physical vibe of the music is what we all love. Seeing the artists live. As we have done so many times.

Inside magnificent venues, stadiums, and in parks.

  • Rolling Stones — Perth
  • Neil Diamond — Salt Lake City (and Australia x 4)
  • Bruce Springsteen — Las Vegas (and Australia )
  • The Lion King — Toronto (and Australia x 2)
  • War Horse — New York
  • Andre Reiu — Perth (x 3)
  • The Phantom of the Opera — Melbourne (and Perth x 2)

And many more: Rod Stewart, Leonard Cohen, U2, Don McLean, k.d.lang, Sammy Davis Jnr, Simon & Garfunkel, James Morrison, Queen with Adam Lambert. These are a few of my favourites.

A lifetime of music.

YouTube and DVDs Are My GoTo For My Piano Studies

How lucky am I! To live in this age of the internet and to have everything I need at my fingertips, for lessons and instructors.

I have assembled everything I need to fulfil my dreams of making music.

  • Yamaha Full sized 88 key electronic keyboard P-155.
  • Piano stool.
  • Stereo Head phones
  • New Samsung Galaxy Tablet A9+
  • Premium YouTube
  • Paid for 12 months online lessons (with unlimited access)
  • Lesson books — Kenneth Baker Books one to five, plus two song books.
  • Pens 🖊 and music paper.
  • WiFi printer for lesson notes and planning.
  • Some other song books — for later

YouTube tutors (two)

One for training muscle memory and finger strength on the keyboard. For keyboard and notes recognition over all scales, octaves, chords, and more. (12 months paid course)

The other for teaching all the lessons in the Kenneth Baker books, one song at a time. (free access through YouTube).

Delivering My Dream of Making Music.

Between the two sets of tutorials, I am confident that my fingers’ muscle memory will be well developed over the next 6 months.

The absolute basis of smooth key recognition and playing is feeling at home on the keyboard.

To learn all the scales, drill them, and instantly know where they are when you need to know the ‘key.’

Plus, I’m reading the music I play. Even the scales and chords. Read them, feel them, and play them.

For me, being able to read the music is essential. Especially in the Kenneth Baker books, where the language of music is being laid out before me.

What Will Reward Me Is Structured Learning.

  • Learning practice strategies
  • Having a systematic practice routine
  • Avoiding mistakes
  • Being committed to daily practice

Trust the process.

Of course, simply having spent a couple of $1,000 getting to this point is no guarantee of success.

Like everything else in life, it’s the doing that pays off.

Investing in yourself deserves success. Time spent learning ‘how to’ is a bigger investment than mere money.

I believe I deserve this success!

Photo by Tech Daily on Unsplash

If you have enjoyed this story, please give it a clap or two and a comment. I look forward to reading your thoughts.

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Lesley Dewar There's always another story to tell
Lesley Dewar There's always another story to tell

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