Piano Memories

09 Jan 2006

Hello CBC!

My mind flooded with memories listening to your program this morning, and the request for piano anecdotes.

I grew up in Scarboro in the 60's and 70's, and like many of my peers, attended weekly piano lessons in the basement of a church, being taught by an ex-nun. She opened my eyes to the beauty of learning to play an instrument. This ability eventually took me learning and teaching across Canada.

I remember, as a teen, proudly riding the subway alone into downtown Toronto to take my exams, making sure other riders could see the books I was carrying, letting them know I was studying music. My success at these exams eventually had me get up the nerve to apply to the Queen's Bachelor of Music program, and was astounded when I was accepted. It was there that I met the most influential teacher in my life, music or otherwise, Sophie Bristow.

Sophie taught us out of her home, an old stone building down near the waterfront. My weekly lessons were not only about piano - they were about life, friendship, shared confidences, and the beauty of listening to yourself, to others, to recordings at full volume. Many wonderful hours were spent in her company, and I would return there often as her friend. I even named my first child after her, remembering what an impact she'd had on my life.

In order to graduate, we had to perform a public recital, attended by many Departmental professors, my entire family drove in from Toronto, and about 200 members of the public. Daunting to say the least! While it was not the most professional performance one would ever hear, it was, and remains, the biggest challenge I've ever faced in my life, having prepared for a year for this evening of 40 minutes of my finest playing.

After my first set of selections, I remember having to leave the stage to still my nerves. My eldest brother, now deceased and probably the person least familiar with classical piano, thought I was done, and whacked a bouquet of roses into my stomach as I passed his aisle seat. That broke my nerves, and I returned to the stage determined to give my family, and Sophie, the performance of my life. It was truly fun, and couldn't have been accomplished without the love, knowledge and dedication of that teacher, Sophie Bristow.

Thanks for letting me share that - it's been years!
Sheila