Ain't Life "Grand"

When I was eight years old my parents were generous enough to pay for piano lessons. That lasted for about a year and then I decided to take up the guitar. I liked the fact that I could lug the guitar around with me here and there. I used to sing around the campfire, on bus trips and even played in a college band. I would sing for weddings, sing in the college common to help pay for books and just sit around and play the guitar at home for my own enjoyment.

Ironically, about 20 years ago, I bought an old house in my home town that I was going to turn into a Bed & Breakfast. In that house was a beautiful Henry Miller parlor grand piano for sale. The sticker on the piano said "$800". I ended up buying it for $100. Yes, that's right, $100.

I could only play one song on it at the time . . . Happy Together by the Turtles. I learned to play it by ear . . . listening to someone else play it and then sitting down at the keyboard and figuring it out by ear over time. Read notes, ha, never.

Let me also add here that I have moved six times since I bought that piano. Each time it cost almost $400 to move and tune it. Not exactly cheap for a instrument I could play only one song on. I was determined, however, and vowed that one day I would have my B&B and take piano lessons again.

Finally, six moves, eighteen years and a bunch of piano tuning later . . . I have my B&B, my piano AND I'm taking piano lessons. There is quite a gap between age eight and forty nine (I'll be fifty next month). You know what they say about it being hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Rut Ro . . .

I've always believed in the motto "when the student is ready, the teacher will come". Well, last summer, I must have been ready. We invited all the kids to come to the Inn for preparation and dinner prior to their Homecoming dance. All the parents came to take photos. As luck would have it, one of the parents, Kerrie Schendel, turned out to be a piano teacher.

So now Kerrie, of Northern Pine Piano Studio, is my piano teacher. Last summer, I started going to her home to practice once a week. She has been teaching both private and group lessons for sixteen years in the Traverse City and Benzie County area. Luckily for me, she teaches "children of all ages", i.e. - four on up. I'm on the "on up" end.

For more information on Kerrie and Northern Pine Piano Studios, contact 231-383-2541.

I had to laugh at one of my earlier lessons when Kerrie pulled out a music book and said, "Hey, I thought you might like to try this song." It was Happy Together by the Turtles. Noooooooo.
I actually did learn that version. Not by ear, but by actually reading the music. Yesiree, I can actually read notes and keep time and play more than one song now. Only Hope, Beauty and the Beast, The Prayer, Right Here Waiting, Take This Heart, Whole New World, God Bless the Broken Road, etc. I'm making progress and sticking with it.

We have had numerous guests sit down to play the piano as well. They'll also play my guitar. We love to be serenaded by our guests. I have the piano in the little alcove in the dining room. A great thing if you want to rent the dining room for business functions, wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, showers, etc. and hire a piano player. . . and no, that would NOT be me! Let's get Kerrie!!!

If you are interested in renting out the dining room for any kind of function, we charge $200/day for the room. Just give us a call at the Inn to make arrangements - 1-866-866-1355.



It is wonderful to sit in my newly decorated dining room, playing my cherished parlor grand piano, looking out the windows at the beautiful view of Crystal Lake.

Ahhhhh . . . Ain't life "Grand"!

Love,
The Lady of the Lake