Grateful

By Grace Patterson

From my parents telling me to practice my piano for 15 minutes and my piano teacher applauding my excellent performance, to the beginning of teaching here at Passion Studios and broadening my musical listening to more jazz and blues, there have been so many people who have influenced my love for music. Since it is November, the month of Thanksgiving, it seems good to go back and gratefully review who has set me on this path of music...

First, my mom. My mom has been the one from the beginning who made me practice exactly fifteen minutes a day, and no less. If I skipped even a minute, I had to practice for twenty the next day. I truly did enjoy piano, but on my valley days, she made me stick to it. My mom also is the one who made me love 80’s rock. 80’s rock was always her driving music, so I heard it a lot and grew to love it. Whether it’s Bon Jovi’s “Shot Through the Heart," Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin,” or REO Speedwagon’s “Can’t Fight This Feeling” I love a good screaming electric guitar.

This next one is rather obvious, but I am grateful for my piano teacher and her constant encouragement. Especially when I was young, she rewarded me with a sticker when I had practiced a good amount or completed a song. I remember looking forward to the next sticker I would put on my piano book, wondering what it would be that week.

The keyboardist from my church and my brother are two other major influences in my musical journey. They helped me play accompaniments, a way I had never played before, and therefore majorly expanding my repertoire to play the songs I loved. Although I still don't love it, my brother was able to help me appreciate both rap and a kicking base in our carpooling years.

The last and most recent person who has greatly influenced my musical journey is Gabi. I was in a lesson with her and she mentioned that I needed to “broaden my horizons” when it came to music. So I started listening to jazz and blues, and man, does a saxophone instrumental hit the spot or what? I realized that I love both genres of music.

“So,” you are probably thinking. “What does this have to do with me?”

I am so glad you asked. Each of these people, and many others, influenced my journey, and without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. At one point in the beginning of writing this piece, I chatted with a coworker who encouraged me to say a simple thank you to the people who had greatly influenced me, whether in music or in everyday life.

As it is nearing Thanksgiving, now would be a good time to put that into practice. My challenge to you is to go back and think about who has influenced you both musically and in your everyday life. Then go, and in some way tell them thank you. For some of you, it might be a verbal thank you, or for others, it might be a handwritten note thanking them for their encouragement. In my house around thanksgiving, we write things we are thankful for on paper cut out leaves, and tape them to a door or a wall where everyone can see the growing collection. Maybe that could be something you do, especially if your influencers in life live with you!

Regardless of how you do it, don’t forget to thank someone who has impacted you this month.