My Own Family Von Trapp

First published in 2013

I don't remember a single day without music. Really. My mom plays the piano and sings. My dad sings. Both of them were in the marching band in high school. so, I guess that is why they signed us up for piano lessons and eventually clarinet lessons! Off to piano we went on Thursday afternoons all the way through elementary, middle and high school. My piano teacher was classically trained and pushed both the technique and theory through all the classical pieces that I would learn and play. As I look back, the training was thorough and I use so much of it, even to today.

Clarinet lessons began in 5th grade and marching band seemed like the next good thing to do. While I loved music and was fairly good at it, I never really considered it as a major in college or as a career. I really didn't want to spend all my time in practice rooms so enjoyed the music stuff, like marching in one of the best college marching bands, helping with worship teams and other music gigs.

God gives what God gives and His planting me right in the midst of a musical family was no accident. I am so very grateful for that aspect of my life. Even though I didn't have a music degree, I followed in my mom and dad's footsteps and became involved in church music, playing the piano (just as heavy-handed as my mom) and singing on worship teams. My husband also plays piano and sings and that was one of the things that drew me to him. So, I guess it would make sense that my kids would all have an interest in music. I have two guitarists, a drummer, four that can plunk out music on the piano, a flutist and four singers. They all have amazing voices and I so enjoyed those days of them tickling the piano keys, banging on the drums, or singing in the shower! We even sang some of the songs of our favorite singing group, The Martins. We learned their acapella songs and thoroughly enjoyed singing these songs at church! Our harmonies never came close to The Martins, but we had fun!

All of my kids also participated in some sort of sport as they were growing up. We spent many days doing gymnastics, soccer, basketball, football, softball, baseball and jump rope. We dumped money into these things, but never had any kids pursue these activities past high school. These were just things that kept them busy, but music really had their hearts and that is what they carried with them beyond high school and college.

At one point, I realized that our 'family business' is doing music and not sports -- we lack athletic genes! We sing, we play instruments and some of them write music. My kids were put right into the midst of two parents who loved music and now, armed with those same gifts, they are using them in their own church communities. On any given Sunday, all of my kids might be participating on their worship teams in their communities while my husband and I lead worship at our church. What a blessing to know that four different churches in three different states now have those gifts being used on a regular basis.

I love all kinds of music...Irish folk music is my latest interest. I enjoy classical, music from the 50's and 60's and beyond. But my favorite moments were those sitting around the piano with the family. SO, thanks mom and dad for all those lessons and thanks for doing music so well. You've passed on something that will go on for a while! A friend calls us the 'Von Jernigans.' I kind of like the sound of that!