Forward -
I have just returned from a New Year's visit to Rod and Desley. It was great to enjoy the blessing of song with the children's enthusiastic voices and instruments. Katlyn's musical talent with piano and violin is a joy to me. Memories came quickly and I thought of the happy times we spent at my house in the bush at Shalem, WA. The same little girl would come skipping through the bush track in high spirits to learn the few basics of music that I could show her and to practice on Grandma's piano. Then I thought of many years ago - and this story! HB
To Play the Piano
I was twelve years old, but needed to reach for my Mum's hand as she rang the door bell at the Catholic Convent in Nannup. She had an appointment with the nun in charge there to ask about a music teacher for me. None of my three older sisters had been able to learn as we lived twenty miles from Nannup and they went to school near home. Besides- although we never thought we were anything but "rich"
living on our beautiful farm, we were not well off.The luxury of having a piano or lessons when they were young was unthinkable. Now that they one-roomed church school at Biddellia was closed, my brother and I were going by school bus to the state school in Nannup. My dear Mother was determined I should learn and I was keen, but so apprehensive. I wasn't used to even going to town very often - I was starting a new school and now this!! I edged behind Mum - it was so scary for me.
We heard the door bell echo down the hall and presently the sound of footsteps and the jingle of keys and rosary beads coming closer. The door was opened by a plump, cheerful lady, dressed in the brown, flowing robes and white head gear of the nun's habit. She led us into a small living room which, although the blinds were half drawn, wasn't really scary at all. I had read stories of convents and nuns having to have their hair shaved off and them being locked up. This was 1947 and those times seemed a long way off as arrangements were made for me to have a half hour lesson during my school lunch time once a week. I was told where the music room was and to be there at 12:30 the next day. I was excited but had misgivings because Mum could only be in Nannup on Tuesdays which was that day. Tuesday was the one and only town day!!
Mum saved her 'egg money' for special things and had put some aside hoping it would be for my piano lessons. She was pleased for me. My Dad didn't say much about it, but that Tuesday when I got home on the school bus, I found a surprise waiting. He had bought me a music case; a brand new, dark blue, leather one. It wasn't easy for him to show love for us in a physical way, but his gift was so very special and told me that he was pleased about it. I loved him dearly!
As yet I had no music books to put in it, but I didn't feel so scared the next day as I quickly ate my lunch and hurried across the street from our school play ground to the convent. I didn't go to the front door as we had the day before, but along the garden party to a very small room at the end of the building. I'd been told to go in and wait for my teacher, so I quietly entered the tiny, but bright and airy room. It seemed just big enough for the shiny piano and it's matching stool and the teacher's chair. I sat down on the stool and gently touched the lovely wood of the piano - it was so beautiful! A brief moment later I heard the same sound of approaching footsteps, keys and rosary beads. This was a different nun and I'm recalling my first impressions as she came from an inside door and smilingly sat down in her chair close to me. She was young with a sweet, gentle face, framed by the stiff, white wimple (covering around cheeks and neck) of her nun's habit. She wore the same long, brown robes; the keys and rosary beads were attached to a wooden cross with a small statue of Jesus on it, which was stuck into a wide leather belt. When she spoke to greet me, I heard a quiet Irish lilt and all of my apprehension vanished.
That first day she taught me to read and play the basic white notes of an octave and I happily received my fist music book. When I left at 1pm, I could play "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep", which was the first tune in the book. I went home pretty excited over that simple song. I was to do my practice on the old pedal organ at our old school room come church building which was near the school bus stop. I did that and by the time I got home it was time to feed chooks, collect eggs and start things for tea as Mum and Dad were at the milking shed. I couldn't wait to tell them about my day and to thank them with a hug.
My Irish music teacher told me that she hadn't been in Australia for long and was missing her home so much. I loved my time of learning with her and she took me from "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" to moderately hard (for me with no piano at home) Brahms, Chopin, Beethoven and Irish folk songs. I wish I had kept my first music books. She let me bring a hymn book after I'd learnt for a while and it wasn't long until I had to play for our simple church meetings if my Aunty was away.
I have never been a 'good' pianist but am thankful for what I did learn, and I love music. I love good music, with it's powerful influence on our emotions, our thoughts and feelings and hence our character and our well being.
My musical family is a blessing from God, for which I give thanks. - Hazel Bailey (Grandma)
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