How Music Began for Me

There was always music around me at the church and in the neighborhood. At age 8 (my teacher was only 13), my Father refused to purchase a piano for me until I was able to play for him; therefore, using three cracker box inserts I pasted them together and drew my keyboard to practice. I really never heard my practicing until I attended my piano lessons for six months. Then Dad bought me an old remodeled "roll" piano to practice.

Afterwards I challenged him to purchase me a new piano that I had seen in Brown Piano Studio window. This purchase was made for me to give my first piano recital at the age of 10.

I had to play my complete program for Lillian LeMon, who was a noted teacher in the region. If I received her approval, then I could perform for what was then mostly all the church members and other teachers at her studio in Indianapolis - that was during the late 40's.