My Parents’ Music

    Klaus

September 30, 2007 by Klaus  
Filed under Klaus

Education will never be expensive as ignorance. A great many children face the difficult task of learning good behavior without seeing any. Another philosophical behavior is: Youth is wasted on the young.

I remember the day my parents first lugged the heavy accordion up our front stoops, taxing the small frame. They gathered me in the living room and opened the case as if it were a treasure chest. And guys, it really was!

“Here it is,” my parents said. “Once you learn to play it, it will be with you for life!” Thanks God, it is. Really. Up to now, even here,in my private room in the Philippines. Anyway, if my thin smile didn’t match my parents’ full-fledged grin, it was because I had prayed for a piano.It was at the end of the 50s, and I was glued to my AM- and shortwave stations,playing classical music 24/7. Accordions were nowhere in my hit parade - even later during the 60s or 70s… .

As I looked at the shine white keys and cream-colored bellows, I could hear already hear my classmates and friends’ squeeze box jokes. For the next weeks the accordion was stored in the hall closet. Mmh! Yeah, really! Then, one night it was announced, that I should take music lessons. Spending an incredible amount for the accordion and the lessons, I really tried my very best to appreciate my parents’ effort - and music! I found out, that music carried away my parents from their world of tools and projects - so to say even me nowadays.

On a Sunday, one of my favorite days till now, I started taping the radio shows. I remember, I was 10 or so. It seemed that I hang on every note. Shortly after, my lessons began with our city church organist, who even allowed me to play on the cathedral organ - “if nobody is around!” I felt clumsy in every day. I was ordered to practice 2 hours or more daily. I tried to get out of it. But one day I was string notes together and coordinate my hands to play simple songs. Beethoven’s “For Elise” on an accordion… . I got the invitation to join the college band. I still remember my teacher’s comments: “Very nice, much better than before!” “You can bring people joy and you can touch their hearts whatever you play!” Whatever? Ok, I agreed, what my professor tried to hammer into my mind. I was just speechless. But finally I learned what it means to work hard and sacrifice for others. Now I understand my parents. Many times, If I just operate my compact disc player of if I join a great concert event, I remember “my parents’ music”. Once upon a time in the West…

I learned to coax sweet but maybe not so perfect sounds from instruments. I admire people, who can do so.By the way, I remember some events with the “Five Pianist Women from Davao” Not only I miss them back on stage.

About the Author:  Klaus is from Germany, but has been living in the Philippines since the late 1990’s. Klaus is a journalist by trade, having written for a number of newspapers, studied also Publishing House Management and Marketing and has also been a Radio Host here in the Philippines.