The holiday season is upon us, and it’s shorter than usual this year with only four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s probably a retailer’s nightmare in that there is less time in which to reap great profits. For me, however, it’s time to revisit Christmas carol classics, the same ones I’ve revisited the past few years.
Why is this even worth writing about? It’s because each year when I pull out the books of Christmas carols I can see how far I’ve come in the past twelve months. This year, I can almost automatically move my fingers to the right note without having to determine mentally what note it is. I can find the F on the bass scale and know that it’s a certain white note on my piano.
This is great progress, since taking up piano in my twilight years is a challenge in the first place. It’s a challenge in the second place because I had no musical education as a child. So when I say I started playing piano as a five year old even though I was fifty-eight, this is not an exaggeration.
I may or may not have the opportunity to display my skills in front of others. No matter. I am heartened by the fact that the same carols that presented problems last year are finally tamed. And I can play them with confidence.
I look forward to what next year brings.
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