Joanna and Me

Mother was a self-taught pianist. No lessons. She had an ear for melody that she could transport straight away to the keys. Childhood was punctuated by singsongs round her joanna, we four boys, and sometimes dad, harmonising and trying to outharmonise the others. Great memories; such fun!

At the tender ages of 5 and 6 though, with an ear for music, I’d had piano lessons with Miss Hempson. Sadly, what ‘Hempie’ made me play were Clementi sonatinas. Clementi? Bore.....ing! Tune.....less! Loser! Why not Mozart... or Oklahoma?

Of course I hardly practised the joanna... which of course I now regret!