My own mother said I stopped whining the day
they put a guitar into my hands. So mothers of the world, listen up,
if you want your kids to stop whining, give them music lessons.
That’s what we did. It was worth it. Each one of these children has
been raised playing something, Noah , my grandson, has been raised
playing everything! You never know what the final outcome is until
you try! Don’t ask how old I am,
old enough to know better and solid enough in the Lord not to do it
again. I have played guitar since a freshman in high school.
Throughout these many years I have performed and taught others. In
my early years I taught at Monti’s Music Center in Maywood, Illinois
and performed in the senior guitar band. (Not as in "old age"
guys...I’m not going there...) Since that time I have performed in
many churches and festivals, fine arts centers and different
functions. I have continued to teach guitar out of my home. I also
managed to fit in a career of nursing and currently am an RN in CCU
(critical care) @ St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, WI ,while
simultaneously home schooling Maranatha and Joanna. It is also my
job to keep 9 grandchildren in line. My very precious husband is a
Pastor at "Our Father's House" in Chili WI. He keeps us all in
line.
Once my husband introduced me to his
Scottish, McNeil heritage, and I heard the Scottish fiddle being
played, I was a "goner". It was almost "goodbye guitar, hello
fiddle". I had to learn the fiddle and set off on a quest to do so.
I have been on this quest for 7 years. I love the vast body of
traditional 18th century Scottish fiddle music and have
attempted to bring it out in our performances. I attended the Jink
and Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling for 4 years and Joanna, 3
yrs. This school is held at Valley Crucis, North Carolina every
summer. This most excellent school is headed by Dr. John Turner, 10
times national Scottish Fiddle Champion in the USA who has received
numerous awards in Scotland as well. Joanna and Maranatha received
excellent Scottish Country Dance instruction from Dr. Turner’s wife,
Moira, who is a certified teacher. Joanna and Maranatha sometimes do
Scottish highland Dancing in our performances.
MPK blends modern with ancient. All of
us , in the band, have written Christian contemporary tunes of
which...not to worry...the guitar and piano are the backbone. So
despite the fiddle, the guitar is not forgotten. We thank the Lord
for His continual guidance and the strength to "be my own roadie" at
every gig!
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