Some of you may already have checked out. That’s okay. I know that not everyone shares my love for playing and listening to piano music. You should, but we’re all different. Maybe you LOVE football or baseball. Maybe you love to watch pro wrestling. I’ll never understand that one, but you know, different strokes. I don’t hate football, baseball, hockey et.al. I just don’t love them. I DO love a good basketball game. It moves fast and you don’t have interminably long waits between plays. In football and baseball, you have time to phone your grandma and whip up snacks before the next play ?
Anyway. I’m not going to ramble on at length about how much and why I love playing the piano. If you love it too, you already get it. If you hate it, you’ll go find a football game to watch. I do want to share this meme with you, though, because. . . well, because it’s interesting ?
Playing the piano is so good for the brain! Helps keep it awake and working. Playing the organ takes it even farther because the feet are also involved, and a good organist is keeping track of several things at once.
Famous pianist Menahem Pressler died this past April 30 at the ripe old age of 99. He was still playing, recording, and learning new music into his 90s. He was the founder of the Beaux Arts Trio, which played and recorded for over 50 years.
Here, he’s playing Claire de Lune, a melody most people will recognize-at least the first few bars. What I love about watching this is the way his hands caress the keys, pulling energy and emotion out of an inanimate object. Amazing.
I won’t be that good until I get to heaven and try out my brand new heavenly piano. I won’t need to have music in front of me-it will all be in my head, and my fingers will find the notes without any problem at all.
Speaking of age, playing piano is also very good for arthritic hands. Helps keep them limber. I have to use a straight chair with a pillow behind my back-the bench isn’t good for me these days. I notice Pressler also had a padded chair. I’m in good company ?
I’m so thankful that I’ve had this pleasure of playing and listening to piano music for most of my life. What a special blessing it has been, and I believe it will only increase once I go home to heaven!
