October Challenge #12--What music do you like? How has music influenced you?
I have said many times how I love music. I have always enjoyed singing in the ward
choir. Gathering around the piano with
my family is one of my favorite things to do!
In fact, my sister and I started singing around the piano as soon as I
learned how to play. The only
frustrating thing for me is that I always end up playing the piano (even though
I don’t play very well) so I rarely get to sing the way I want to.
Several years ago I was surprised when I was called to be the
music leader in primary. I’m not sure
why I was surprised, I just never thought that I would be teaching anything
about music. I like to sing, but I am
not very knowledgeable or educated about music.
Much to my delight I found that I LOVED teaching the primary kids songs
about the Savior! I did that for 3 years
and loved every minute of it. I honestly
cried when I was released.
Fast forward a few years, I was not only surprised but
actually astonished when I was issued a call to be the ward choir
director. Having sung in the choir for
many years I had a great respect for the director. I never thought myself capable of leading the
choir to produce good music. I was
extremely nervous when I started, and after many prayers stepped into the
role.
Isn’t it amazing how the Lord knows your talents and
abilities better than you know yourself?
Once I got started I found that I took to this position as a duck to
water! I seem to have a knack (I’m
pretty sure that the Lord guides me!) for finding interesting and challenging
music for the choir to perform. I have
found that by giving my wonderful choir members songs that stretch their
abilities has given them confidence and they sound WONDERFUL! They work SO hard! And it is amazing to me that they try very
hard to do what I ask them. I am so
blessed with a fantastic accompanist who knows more about music than I can even
begin to understand. She helps me the
technical issues and the mechanics of the songs.
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