Edna Mae McCall

Mrs. McCall was my second music teacher. I took lessons for probably close to two years as a young child from another very nice, but very easily fooled lady. She didnt cotton on that I couldnt read a note of music. I would convince my sister to play my lessons, and I would play by ear what I had heard. This was gloriously fun and easy for me, although Im sorry my parents wasted their money!

When my mother caught onto my little tricks, she somehow came across Edna McCall. Needless to say I was mildly agitated that my game had been discovered, as I was doing just fine playing by ear! But Mrs. McCall had some very simple rules. 1)Learn to play the music as written, learn to read music. And 2)Once you learn to play it for me as written, THEN, you can add whatever embellishments you want and play it for me again.

I developed my ability to read and play music, and lessons became enjoyable and exciting. I counted down the days until I could pick through the thousands of pieces of sheet music she had, because once we did the lessons in my piano book, we could play fun music! I went to her for lessons all through grade school and high school, eventually driving myself to lessons rather than having my poor mother or father take me to Bavaria or Culver and sit in the car waiting.

I loved my teacher. She allowed me to develop my ear, and disguised the job of learning to read music, with fun. She would have piano concerts, I played duets with a very good friend who also took lessons, and enjoyed developing my skills. I played for churches, weddings, funerals, and Im sure its because she encouraged me to continue to grow musically. I often think of her piles and piles of sheet music fondly, such memories.

She will be remembered with love from all of her students, especially by this one.

Love you Mrs. McCall!

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