Stacy Learns to Play the Piano

Like many people, I took piano lessons as a child. It was something of a right of passage. My older sister and brother had taken lessons, and we had a piano in our living room. As is always the plight of the youngest child, I was eager to do all the things my siblings had done before me. 

I started lessons in the first or second grade. I'd seen many people around me play the piano. My sister, both my grandmas, my Aunt Shirley, and others in my extended family had all played at various times, and it was now my turn. I remember that first lesson very well, but maybe not for the reason you would expect. 

My mom arranged for me to take lessons from Mrs. Kreps, a lady who lived one block over and taught piano out of her home. Now, I knew everyone on our block, but this block one street over, well, that was uncharted territory. How exciting!

I took the bus home from school, and then walked over to the next block for my lesson (6-7 year olds operated autonomously in the 1970's!)  

As I knocked on the door I was greeted by an older, pleasant woman who let me in. She said, "Mrs. Kreps is finishing up with a student right now. You can have a seat here."

I sat on a bench in the entryway, nervous with the anticipation of meeting my teacher for the first time. The woman came back and said I could come into the piano room now. She sat on the piano bench with me and went over some of the rules.

She told me things like, "Mrs. Kreps prefers that you keep your nails trimmed," and "Always be on time, Mrs. Kreps doesn't like it when students are late."

I listened dutifully, as I wanted to do well. I always wanted to please my teachers, and this was no exception. I really appreciated that this woman was giving me all this important information so that I'd be prepared for when I met Mrs. Kreps.

I don't remember what else occurred in that first lesson. Most likely it included some basics about keys and chords and hand placement. I felt like there wasn't enough actual piano playing happening yet, but that is the impatience of a child. I couldn't wait until my next lesson - and to meet my actual piano teacher.

The following week the same woman greeted me at the door and much of the same scenario played out. She told me Mrs. Kreps expects this or Mrs. Kreps doesn't like that. I was enjoying the lesson, but where the heck was Mrs. Kreps? Enough with this preparation - I am ready to meet the teacher and learn piano!

And then, at some point during the lesson, it finally dawned on me. It was like that click in your mind when you finally get a joke or a riddle.  This older woman, this assistant, this lady giving me the lowdown on everything Mrs. Kreps liked and didn't like - she WAS Mrs. Kreps. 

And so I learned piano, and I also learned, for the first time, the somewhat peculiar nature of someone speaking in third person.

I continued the lessons for a few more years. Mrs. Kreps was a kind, lovely woman and a talented piano teacher. She passed away in 2020, residing in the same house where I had my lessons, and she dreamed of being a concert pianist. 

I'm sure she would have been a great one, but then all of us kids would have missed out on 40 years of Mrs. Krep's piano school.

Stacy learned a lot from Mrs. Kreps, including how to play the piano.