This is my mom. Her name is Millie. This picture was me and my younger sister with her 5 years ago at her 80th birthday party. Without her, I wouldn’t be a musician and Harmanny Music Education wouldn’t exist. Literally.
I started piano lessons when I was 5 years old. Being a pastor’s kid, initially, we didn’t need a piano, because I could go next door to the church and practice. But when I was in 3rd grade, my grandparents gave me their piano (the instrument I teach on today!). However, I had a very strict teacher with expectations, and while I loved playing the piano, practicing was not something I was quite interested in. And it wasn’t (in my estimation)…..fun. So I wanted to quit. My mom said no. A straight, flat out no. That was mean, wasn’t it? No, it was out of love. Because my grandmother let her quit piano, and she knew that I was talented and did not want me to have the regret that she did. So I had to continue.
Eventually, I did to learn to tolerate and understand the necessity of practicing, fueled by my mom’s nightly encouragement of “Craig, I love to hear you practice while I do the dishes”. See, we didn’t have a dishwasher, so dishes needed to be washed by hand. I’m convinced that she took her time, double rinsed everything and stretched out the time to do dishes nightly so I could practice longer! I asked her a couple of years ago if that was the case and she just smiled….didn’t give me a verbal answer, but it’s the answer I was expecting!
There was a point in time in college that I momentarily considered switching from vocal music education to pre-seminary, to become a pastor. I talked to my parents about it, and my dad’s question in response was, “how would you use your musical gifts?” I stopped and pondered that. Then had the same conversation with my mom and again, I got the immediate, flat-out NO. Why? “We’ve spent so much money and time on your music that you have to do that. Once we’re dead and you still want to become a pastor, you can.” So that answered that. I have no desire to be a pastor anymore anyway! 🙂Â
My mom was my biggest cheerleader and encourager in music. I’m so grateful for her and her pushing me to continue, even when things were hard. I love you mom!