Playing the Piano -- Early Years

My earliest memories are of listening to my mother play the piano as I drifted off to sleep. My mother had majored in piano and organ in college. She played Schumann, Chopin, Beethoven and others. I begged her to teach me to play. I wanted to play the piano so much! But, she wouldn't teach me until I was in third grade. My mother was my only piano teacher until I went to college.

My first lesson was such a disappointment. "Tommy Tunes" -- I played middle C for four beats and repeated that, etc. "No, mother!", I said. "I want to play like you -- with two hands!". Haha, I can't believe I was so naive.

I learned quickly. By sixth grade I could sight read a lot of music. I would come home from school and go straight to the piano. I could play for hours and hours . . .