Marilyn Johnson

My First Piano Teacher



Posted: Sunday, May 06, 2007

by Marilyn Johnson
MJ Sheet Music

My first piano teacher was the most influential teacher in my life. Betty Corwin was a rare mix of patience and inspiration. She guided me from the very beginnings of piano instruction through the challenges of playing intermediate-level music. Her wise - yet whimsical - words of wisdom have stayed with me throughout my life, though it’s been years since I’ve seen her.

I’ll never forget the excitement of my first piano lesson. My older brother had taught me to play a few tunes by rote and I was certain that I would impress her with my repertoire. I’m sure Mrs. Corwin would have been happy to hear these songs, but her directions held my attention so well that I forgot about showing her what I already knew. My know-it-all attitude had been replaced by a new zeal to learn everything I could in a subject area that could take a lifetime to master.

As I progressed, Mrs. Corwin guided me through many challenges. Sometimes my hands were too small to play all the bass notes. (They still are!) There were the occasional memory lapses and the struggles with performance anxiety. Yet she consistently came through with the right advice for each predicament.

After five years as the ideal pedagogue, Mrs. Corwin performed the ultimate unselfish act in teaching – she referred me to someone else. I’ve known many outstanding piano teachers over the years that have influenced me by the accomplishments of their students. These highly-esteemed instructors would never have recommended another teacher for one of their prize students. I’m not sure that I would have either. Yet this one teacher, who could have “grown" with me, chose instead to send me to someone else.

And that wasn’t the end of her effect on my life. Mrs. Corwin continued to encourage me by providing me with opportunities to play. She invited me to play at one of her piano recitals and recommended me for weddings and other community events. Betty Corwin is the epitome of teaching – always looking for ways to motivate and promote her students.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Ben Jones
 4 years 299 days ago.
71 fans.
She sounds like a remarkable women who certainly had a big impact on your life. Thank you for sharing her with us!
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