Braman's Wanderings

I ran across some pictures while looking for something else, and my mind wandered so I am having some piano memories tonight.

My earliest memories go back to this old upright piano. This was the piano that we grew up learning to play on. The piano had belonged to my great-grandmother.

I started banging away on the piano at an early age, but it was not for a few more years before I started taking lessons from Margaret Hunt. I remember how sometimes my sister and I would ride the city bus all the way across Ottumwa to our lessons at the former Harper Mansion.

Here is my sister getting ready to play at a piano recital on the baby grand piano at the MSE administration building which the old mansion had become.

I remember getting all dressed up for our piano recitals.

Later we had a smaller console piano. We would often sit down and play. Sometimes with our siblings. Here is my eldest sister with my youngest brother.

This piano is now at my youngest brother’s house and my niece is learning to play.

My Mom also taught piano lessons after school so the sound of piano music was a constant in our home.

Here my sister is playing at a recital. She played much better than the rest of us.

I quit taking lessons after me moved to Kansas when I was 11. Instead I took up the trombone. I sometimes wish that I had continued taking piano lessons. I do have piano at home now and will occasionally sit down and play.

Lots of piano memories tonight.

Steven