Just before Christmas we really pack in the fun with baking, shopping, planning and more music.  That’s what makes it fun.  As a new member of the First United Methodist Choir, I’ve had a whirlwind holiday season. 

 Director Ken Ketel has a very ambitious folder of music - lots of good classic arrangements, plenty of them by John Rutter.  There’s a story on National Public Radio this week about Rutter’s music. As luck would have it, the very song we sang this past Sunday -  ”Shepherd’s Pipe Carol”  - can be heard. Visit this link to hear it sung by the Cambridge Singers.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98469801

Of course, the great advantage that Ketel has lives in the ten, talented fingers of his wife.  Diane Ketel has been at the helm of the church’s organ and piano for a good, long while.  No doubt there are lively discussions in their home as they plan the year’s music.  For Christmas Eve, they really “pull out the stops” (never has a phrase been more appropriate)  and round up enough musicians for an orchestra to accompany the choir.

I love it.  I haven’t sung in a choir since college days - that would be 38 years ago, in an a Capella choir and we rehearsed daily, for months, before performing.  The same was true for my high school choirs, but the real work was earlier than that. 

 My elementary experience was St. Martin’s Lutheran School in Watertown, SD.  Not only did we rehearse singing,  we had special morning practices at the church in the weeks before Christmas.  Principal Howard Maertz drilled us in  a routine of stand (count to three), turn (count to three), recite.  Then turn (count to three), sit and be still (count to a thousand and three).  If you are getting visions of the little guy in the helmet saying, “Vee hahf vays of making you recite,” you’re on the right track.  If there was one child who turned to the left when it should have been to the right…..we all did it again…..the whole school.  You must believe me when I say it wasn’t that bad:  it was fun to take a special bus for rehearsal, fun to be with the whole school in a program, fun to get it “just right”. 

 My fondest memory of Christmas was learning to sing “Silent Night” in German.  That’s how we would finish the program, all the lights were turned off, only candles provided illumination, many of the congregation joined in. It was definitely a “tingly” moment. 

With all that rehearsing in my background, I was not prepared for a couple of practice sessions with all the choirs of UMC and then one run-through with the orchestra on Tuesday night.  BUT the Ketels have FAITH that we can do it.  I’m looking forward to a number of “tingly” moments tonight.

I hope you have a church to attend tonight.  If not, join us at 5 and 7 tonight to hear the orchestra and chorus.  First United Methodist is at the corner of Kansas CIty Street and 7th.  If you can’t make it, I hope you take a moment to sing a song and remember what Christmas is about.

Let me know about your Christmas.  If you have a story about music and your “tingly moment” drop a line in the comment box and I’ll put it in this blog.

Merry Christmas.  mlt

Many parents start their children’s musical career with a Christmas present.  Of course, a piano can be a major investment.  That’s why the music stores in Rapid City have such great rental programs. 

If your child wants to learn how to play the piano, you MUST have a piano so that they can practice every day.  It’s just that simple.  If you are not ready to make that kind of purchase find out about the rental programs at Black Hills Piano Gallery, Batchelder’s Plummer Piano or Haggerty’s Musicworks.   These three businesses have package deals with a piano rental and lessons at their store.

Renting is a good way to get started.  If a year or so goes by and your child tires of the piano or becomes enthused about the bassoon, then you can just return the piano.  On the other hand, if your child blossoms at the keyboard and is ready for an upgrade, you have a bargaining tool.  Many stores will give you a generous “credit” for your accumulated rental payments when you decide to purchase a piano.

If you are ready to make a purchase, please  have the player “test drive” the models you are interested in.  WHAT?  Well, dear reader, let me assure you that pianos have souls.  A good salesperson will explain how the wood is selected, then aged for 10-20 years, then sorted and selected again.  A good grand piano takes about a year to build.  (I kid you not….check out the story on National Public Radio about Steinways this week.)

I was reminded of all this last Thursday when I played a new Yamaha grand for a Christmas Party.  When I commented about what a great touch and sound the piano had, owner Tony Thomas of BH Piano Gallery said, “It’s the same one you played at the BlizzAid at the Rushmore Mall.”

“Who do you think you’re talking to?”  I spat back at him. “This is a different piano completely.   I think they cut the wood on the southern slope when the moon was full.”

“Ah, you are right, Marie,” he laughed. “This is the same model as the BlizzAid piano, but it has been played for about six months.”

You may think that is silly, but let me assure you that you must play the pianos that you are considering.  Take some music down to the store and settle in for a good test concert.

18 years ago my husband and I went in to buy a BLACK studio piano from Dan Senftner (then owner of Plummer Piano).  We had four years of rental credit ready to apply.  The marvelous Mary Lou Torrey helped us narrow down our search and patiently waited while I spent several days playing different pianos.

We ended up with a BROWN piano - it’s actually walnut.  I had to completely change my decorating scheme because of this piano.  We also got a grand, not a studio.  That changed our budget for a number of years.  BUT, I have always loved my piano. That’s what you are looking for.  Find the one you love.  When you reach the point of naming it…..you are there.  Buy it!

Let me know if you have any questions or comments about buying a piano.

Thanks for stopping by. mlt

On Wednesday,  Dec. 10, Karen Waltman, Cleone Mayclin and I will motor up to Spearfish for a Brown Bag Lunch at the Matthews Opera House.  This is an annual event for the Spearfish Duet Club started by Dr. Janeen Larson.

We met with Dr. Larson this fall for advice on how to enhance the numbers of our duet group - Piano PALS.  She encouraged us to set up some public performances.  In that light, she invited us to come up and play piano for their holiday concert.

Karen and I will be playing a jazzy Christmas medley arranged by Catherine Rollin; we had a chance to polish that during BlizzAid.  Cleone and Karen will perform “Silent Night” in an arrangement by Joel Raney.

If you are in Spearfish on Wednesday at noon, stop in at the Matthews Opera House right downtown on Main Street. It will be inspiring to hear what they have been practicing in the Northern Hills.

We are planning an organizational meeting for Piano PALS in January.  If you are interested in practicing and performing piano duets with other adult players, please let me know.  342-3328.

Thanks for stopping by. mlt

Our BlizzAid-Holiday Edition was fun, but we didn’t raise as much money as the first one.

 ”I don’t want you to be discouraged,” said Richard Smith. “You never know what kind of impact this program has had.” Smith is the executive director of the Black Hills Chaper of the American Red Cross.  He and Betsy Mergenthaler were there to register players, count the cash and keep thing flowing.  Betsy is in charge of marketing and publicity for the Red Cross.  Her daughter Grace kept an eye on all of us.

My students were marvelous, as usual.  Caroline brought her cousin, Lily, along to play a piano/cello duet.  Christine and Emily surprised me with newly-learned Christmas carols and their friend Dana, who also played.  Their little sister Jillian kept up interpretive dance all afternoon. Thanks also to Rhye, Karen, Cleone and Ruby….and of course, the marvelous Curtis Bauer.  What a talented group.

We raised $146 that afternoon.  In the evening another musical friend called and asked if she could send a check for $25; the cold weather had kept her away.  That’s the spirit.  The Red Cross will continue to accept donations on the behalf of BlizzAid through December.

I can’t get my pictures to load up on this blog, so I cry out, “Uncle” and I’ll post some on my personal website blog.  Go to www.marielouisetesch.com if you would like to see more.

Thanks for stopping by. mlt