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for heatherem's CJ

journaling:
I'm pretty sure music is attached to almost every memory I have of my life. It seems it has been an important part of my life since I was born and my parents sang to me and played classical music radio for me while I slept. I remember my dad singing "Many Brave Hearts" and "Hey There" every time he walked down the hallway when I was a child. I remember carrying around my pink mini-boombox and listening to my tapes: Psalty, Amy Grant, and Sandi Patti. I guess I would say an important step in my "musical destiny" was when I started taking piano lessons at age 5. {“See the Funny Clown,“ “Minuet in G”} I started singing in choir in 3rd grade, and still remember several songs I learned in my elementary music classes and Sunday school. {"A Smile Is a Funny Thing, You Know," "The Lollipop Tree" "He's Still Workin' On Me."} I was in my first musical in 5th grade, and started playing clarinet in band that year too.
In junior high, I started taking voice lessons, which I loved from the moment I started. I remember my first voice teacher taking having me sing through many musicals and getting me started on a lot of good techniques. In high school, I was involved in music in every way I could be--show choir {"Magical Mystery Tour," "Welcome to the Jungle," "River of Dreams" "Pinball Wizard"}, marching band, in which I switched to tenor saxophone my freshman year, {Aaron Copeland pieces, Kodaly pieces, a West Side Story show}, concert band, jazz band, pep band, and vocal and piano solo competitions. Some of my favorite Christmas memories are of our [extended] "family band" playing and singing Christmas carols for hours during our holiday gatherings. My absolute favorite activities were musicals: Brigadoon, Sound of Music, Pajama Game (my first leading role!), The King & I. Somehow, I was also talked into playing piano to accompany the womens' show choir too, and it turned out to be great experience! When opportunities came up for me to participate in the Indiana All-State Choir, tour 8 European countries singing with the U.S. Collegiate Choir (talk about memories!!) {“The Water Is Wide,” “Hi-Ho Anybody Home”} I finally realized I wanted to study music in college.
Of course, many of my high school memories are attached to the songs I sang and played in activities, as well as the art songs and Italian pieces I worked on in my private voice lessons. But, also sentimental to me, of course, are the great rock love ballads of the 1990's, like More Than Words (the song my [now] husband and I were dancing to when he asked me to "go with him!"), {"Everything I Do," and "Love of a Lifetime."} Jeremy's love of Louis Armstrong {"C'est Si Bon!" "A Kiss to Build a Dream On"} got me hooked on jazz too. Ella Fitzgerald is one of my all-time faves.
I did major in music in college. I was challenged by my private voice lessons and courses in music history, vocal pedagogy, music industry, and struggled through 5 grueling semesters of music theory. It even forced me to learn to listen to, respect, and enjoy ALL types and styles of music--at least a little bit! During college, I was honored to sing in what I still believe was the best college choir anywhere, the Chapel Choir, for all 8 semesters. We rehearsed for 3 hours a day, and I still loved practicing on my own for about 3 more hours a day! We also toured, gave unforgettable concerts, and recorded CD's. {“Keep Your Lamps,” “The Lord Bless You & Keep You”} I landed roles in college musicals and even operettas {Children of Eden, A Little Night Music, La Perichole,} and loved every moment of all the concerts, juries for the faculty, solo opportunities, vocal jazz lessons, masterclasses, and especially giving my recitals. I was so proud to receive my Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 1999 from The Conservatory of Music at Capital University . Oh, and of course, I have memories connected to music outside the classroom too--like dancing to annoying songs {"American Pie," those long Meatloaf songs, and junk from Grease!} at frat parties...ha ha ha.
Since college, I have become a wife {wedding songs: "Happiness," "Could Not Ask For More"}, and a mother, and that has changed my musical direction a lot. I never moved to NYC to become a Broadway star, or Nashville to launch my career as a Christian singer. Instead, I get to sing lullabies, nursery rymes, and Veggie Tales. {"You Are A Masterpiece," "Good Morning My Baby," "Song of the Cebu"} I love it; it's truly an honor. Memories I have of singing songs for and with my children are some of the very most precious of my entire life. I'm not sorry I didn't pursue a career in music, and I feel very blessed to still have opportunities to use my gifts. I have done a little bit of teaching private voice and judging high school vocal competitions, which is fun. Most importantly, I have come to be reminded that any talent I have comes directly from the Lord. I'm so honored to be able to use my abilities in worship to Him by singing and playing piano in my church. {"Come To Jesus," "Amazing Love"} I hope each memory of the worship I'm involved in will continue to draw me closer to the Lord throughout my life.
So, as I said, I'm pretty sure music is attached to almost every memory I have of my life. So many musical memories to be thankful for...Music has completely filled my life with wonderful memories!


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