Almost everyone has a story about Music in their lives. It may be that your subject learned/played an instrument, sang, or had some other connection with music. It may be a key part of your subject's story.
My family laugh at my efforts at music, especially singing - but with three talented singers in the family there was just not enough singing-genes to go around, so my talents lie elsewhere.
But I do have some stories about Music and Me.
- One that came to mind when I accidentally found the above video on YouTube. When I was nursing in Mount Gambier in South Australia in the early 1960's, Miss Winifred Atwell played at the Odeon Theatre - and I was one of the enthralled members of the audience.
- In 2008 in China on International Women's Day we had a full day of tours, speeches, and performances and much later a wonderful banquet, but the last performance was a group of Chinese dancers who invited members of the audience to join them in their dance at the end. No one would do it. I certainly didn't want to - as I was not dressed for dancing - jeans, heavy coat, sneakers etc, but in the end, as no one else would, I did so. I couldn't manage the steps so "invented" my own - much to the amusement of all present, and huge embarrassment for me. However, the best was to come! Apparently it appeared on television that night!! And the MC -a Chinese government official who I was later to meet on a regular basis for a short time, always wrote to me "Dear Blonde Disco Dancer......."
- In 2010 for International Women's Day, and again in China one of my friends and I were invited to perform. How funny - we made it to the stage and sang "I am Australian".
I love classical music and jazz. Oh, how I love Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck and many more. I still have my collection of LP's from the 60's!!!
I am including a list of 5 - 10 of my favourite pieces of music in my story - and hope that if there is a memorial service for me that some of them will be played.
So, when you are writing about someone, don't forget the music.
