Thursday, May 7, 2015

Throwback Thursday (With a New Video, Too): Once a Piano Player, Always a Piano Player

Throwback Thursday, #TBT, playing piano, singing, 1980s, Jamie Allison Sanders
I started playing piano when I was 7 years old. Well, actually, I probably started tinkering around with the piano when I was 2 or 3 -- but my mom waited until I was 7 for me to start taking piano lessons. I was so excited when I finally began learning how to play for REAL. (I wasn't always the best at practicing, but that's another story.)

The photo above was taken when I was around 11 years old (I'm estimating here based on the fact that I think I'm wearing my ever glamorous retainers, plus my hair was in a super awkward "I'm growing out my feathered layers" phase then). I'm fairly certain this was at my grandmother's house and not my own, since our piano always had a TON of music sitting on top. It's honestly a little hard to tell, though!

And here's the coolest part. My brother and I took piano lessons from the same woman who taught my mom, aunt AND grandmother! Her name was Anne Molnar, and I owe everything I learned to her. She taught me not only how to actually play the piano and read music, but how to play with feeling and emotion. I always loved that I had the same teacher as so many generations before me -- it gave us all a special bond and connection that I've treasured throughout my life.

Throwback Thursday, #TBT, playing piano, singing, 1980s, Jamie Allison Sanders, family, piano teacher, piano recital
A photo of my mom, grandma and me with our shared piano teacher, Mrs. Molnar. This was taken after one of my piano recitals, I believe in either 1988 or 1989.

I think what's most evident here is how happy playing piano made me -- and still makes me to this day. It's always brought me immense joy, especially when I'm singing, too. The one challenge I've always had is that it's very difficult -- really, almost impossible -- for me to play something after only hearing it. I've always needed sheet music. In recent months, I've been challenging myself to try playing songs WITHOUT the music, though, and it's happening, albeit slowly.

One of my projects was Bette Midler's "The Rose" -- it's always been one of my favorite songs, and to be honest, it was not incredibly difficult to learn by ear! I made a video, which I've included below for (hopefully) your listening pleasure. I know the quality isn't the greatest, but I mainly made it as a test run of whether I could really do it. I hope you enjoy!



20 comments:

  1. I love your throwback Thursday posts so much, Jamie! I love your video! You are amazing!

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    1. Thank you so much for the kind words, Lola. :)

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  2. What a great post, Jamie! You are reminding me that I should sit down and play my beautiful grand piano that I haven't touched in ages. Being able to play music certainly is a gift. Wish I weren't so rusty, though

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    1. I can't recommend playing the piano enough! Who cares whether you're rusty -- it's just nice to sit down and play. :)

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  3. Aw, so cute! I love your Throwback Thursday posts. :)

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  4. Congratulations on playing the accompaniment so well after you figured it all out! And your voice...exquisite as always.

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  5. That is so cool that your piano teacher was responsible for the talent in the whole fam ;) Generations!

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    1. I've always really loved that. It's so nice to have a connection to many generations in my family through our piano playing.

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  6. I've always wished I could play an instrument. You sound great!

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    1. It's never too late to learn, Bailey! :) And thank you!

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  7. I sang The Rose at a friend's wedding back in the day!

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  8. I always enjoy your throwback posts :) I played Clarinet and Base Clarinet and dabbled in the sax... I can also play the Ukulele. All of which is years behind me. lol I wish I could play the piano and still want to learn. Is it difficult to learn at my age?

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    1. Wow! You played so many instruments. I would say if you have already played all of those then it wouldn't be TOO hard to pick up the piano. You should do it!

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