Learn Piano your way with a TakeLessons expert

By Beverly M. - Oklahoma City Piano Teacher

I’ve lived in some interesting places in my life — Paraguay, South America: Roswell, New Mexico; and Scottsdale, Arizona - just to name a few. I can tell you a lot about Paraguay and Roswell, because I spent long periods of time in each of those places. But in the 8 ½ years I have lived and taught piano lessons in El Reno, Oklahoma, I had no idea until today that there was a famous musician from this sleepy little town.

Surprisingly, there is a famous musician from my little town—and a very good one at that! Sam Rivers is a jazz musician and composer who performs on soprano and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, flute, harmonica and piano. He was born in 1923, currently resides in Orlando, FL, and performs regularly with his orchestra and trio.

The other thing I discovered today came during a moment of self reflection. You would have thought as a musician I would have searched for the musical history of my new home, but I didn’t. I got busy — very busy — and put my blinders on like a good workhorse and got right to work. I had to build a business teaching piano lessons in Oklahoma City from the ground up.

Not only did I not know about Sam Rivers, but I also didn’t know about the Damrosch Music Club, which has existed in this town for five years. The monthly meetings that I attend with that group of musicians and singers are now one of the highlights of each month, and I totally missed it for five years. I only discovered it because the chorus director of the group came to a piano recital of her nephew and immediately asked me to perform at their meeting the following week. If I had only done some research, I could have been a part of this group when I first arrived in town. Our Christmas performances at the Federal prison are THE performance experiences of the year for me.

I would have to say that I have found teaching piano in El Reno/Oklahoma City more challenging than in other areas I have lived, but not in a way that you might think. In each community I have always had a few students who were special needs or had physical handicaps, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized that 28% of my 48 students have some sort of learning disability or physical handicap. It’s not that this community has more special needs population than any other—far from it! It’s somewhat of a mystery to me as to how these students found me, but I must say that I am SO blessed that they did! Although I have no special training to teach them, somehow we always figure out a way to make it work. What an eye-opener it has been for me to realize that ANYONE can learn to play piano! My “orchestra” is full of musicians who are “different.” What wonderful flavor they add to my life, and to the music that fills the air in this community.

If we’re not careful, we can become so one dimensional, so focused, so caught up in our own little world, we forget to look around to see all the incredible talents that have blazed a trail before us, or appreciate who is blossoming around us. From time to time, let’s look up, take the blinders off, and look to see who else in playing in the orchestra or singing in the chorus of life! I encourage you to remember this as you begin your musical journey taking piano lessons in Oklahoma City.