America's Got Talent

I am watching America's Got Talent and going down memory lane. My dad played any piano, any time, any song and anywhere. Dad could play by ear.... As in NO sheet music. When I say anywhere, if Costco had a piano on display....dad played it.  He was a great talent.  His brother Art, a few years older than dad realized his brothers talent. Art saved his earnings from his paper route and odd jobs and bought dad a piano.

When I was five Dad thought it was time for me to start piano lessons.  Play by ear?....I don't think so.... I had to have a paper stand up cheat sheet that told you what every key was named.  It took weeks to memorize.. .Every...Good...Boy...Does...Fine and F..A..C..E.. Hell... that was only the right hand.  Then more pain to memorize the left hand  ...Good...Boys...Do...Fine...Always..and All..Cows...Eat...Grass.

Dad did not want to teach me so they hired a piano teacher that came to the house once a week...  I hated it and I hated her..  Mom always made me put on a dress for the teacher. I remember getting up on that damn wooden piano bench and my panties and legs would sweat.  Then if I moved my legs I would get an Indian burn from the friction...  It was impossible to concentrate on my lesson while in pain..  And where was mom and dad???  They were in the kitchen so I could have my lesson in private...

I was about three months into my lessons...still hating it and hating her...and I didn't practice much that week. Mom and dad were in the kitchen and the teacher started to yell at me....
She said, "You were to practice 30 minutes each day and I know you DID NOT."   
"Well, I don't like it and I DON'T LIKE YOU," I said.
She took her hand and slapped me across the face and I fell backward off the bench.
Dad heard me cry and came running into the room..  It was the first time I heard him yell at someone. He told her to get the HELL out of his house.
When she left...he said...
"Don't you like playing the piano?"
"No....the songs are ugly."
He said,"I thought you were good...if I get a nice teacher..will you try again?"
"Ok,"  I said.....  
At eleven years old.. I memorized and played Clair de Lune at a recital wearing a new dress.
While I was in high school I taught piano to kids on Saturday mornings...

I miss dad when I think of those times....