Why I can play the piano

Today, I have been thinking of my piano teacher Mrs. Brewer and something she did for me when I was young. When I was about 14 my parents hit a rough spot financially. They could no longer pay for my weekly piano lessons. My mother went to Mrs. Brewer to tell her we would be quitting piano. Mrs. Brewer adamantly refused and said we must not stop. She offered that I continue coming for lessons and insisted that they would be free of charge. My mother cried. My mom arranged to bring Mrs. Brewer dinner every Tuesday after my lesson. I believe I had free lessons for that whole year.

Mrs. Brewer was recently widowed at the time. Her husband served in the army during WWII. The HBO series Band of Brothers was made about his division. They traveled the world together and had good kids that had grown up and moved away. Looking back on that kindness today, I am so surprised by her willingness to help us. I'm a little taken back to think of the pure love that she must have had in her heart. Its quite poweful to think of it.

Mrs. Brewer taught me how to play my first hymns. I think of her everytime I sing, "Onward Christian Soldiers." It was the first hymn I learned, and she insisted I learn it even though I had never sung it in church before. She was Episcopalian and for me it was strange and wonderful to meet other adults besides my parents who believed in God. She encouraged me to learn many hymns and did not let me get away without practicing. I really had never reflected on this incident of charity until today. As I think of it now I am brought to tears. I switched teachers a few years later and I always missed her. I still do.