"Lessons My Mother Taught Me..."

Hello  

My mother was a professional pianist with more letters after her name than
letters in her name.

In fact...

She started playing at age 4 – and was still playing professionally at age 89.
She was just so active – I bought her a new car for her 80^th birthday.

As you might imagine...

She taught me many of life’s lessons – and just the other morning; listening
to the radio; one of them came tumbling back to my auditory sense – as I
heard her voice again in my mind:

She told me...

“You can’t play great music on a piano that needs tuning!”

Now – in my Mother’s case it actually wasn’t true. I can recall seeing
(and hearing) her play awesome music on some of the oldest, ropiest,
out-of-tune honky-tonks around. Mind you – she was a real pro and when
you’ve been playing for 80+ years – I suppose you must learn something!

Oh:

The radio presenter was interviewing a piano tuner – asking him about all
the aspects of his fascinating and skilful profession.

And so...

It got me thinking – and things often do. And being a great believer in the
idea: ideas never come knocking without a purpose in mind – I kept on
thinking.

Here’s what...

I thought: If I’m going to be able to ‘play’ at my best – I better make sure
I’m tuned! And – if I can’t ‘tune’ myself I’d better get a professional ‘tuner’
to help me. He or she will have the right tools and an ‘ear’ used to knowing
if things are off-tune.

Certainly...

I can do some of the tuning myself – an experienced player knows when
things are ‘off’ and how to correct them.

But...

It’s taking the time to stop – step back, think and listen to know if some
‘tuning’ needs to take place.

Come to think of it...

When everything is in tune – the music sure sounds better doesn’t it?

Better go – some more tuning to do – will you too?
 

Go on then...

Peter Thomson

Editor and Tuned-Up Publisher

tgiMondays
 

PS: Feedback and comments to: peter@tgimondays.com