Tue 5 May 2009
One picture for the time being. I have access to a camera, though, that I keep forgetting about, so perhaps more will follow this one.
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| From Porter and Bonnie |
Our Wedding Day
I love this man so much! He’s the best husband 
________________________
It seems like I have to be in the right mode to blog, and I’m just not getting into it. I don’t spend all day in my room turning over thoughts in my head anymore 
Ah, a few things are news, though, so I will mention something about them. For one, I called a local nursing home and asked if I could come down to play the piano. So I’m set up to play there in a few weeks. I’ve been going through hymns I know and trying to play them on the piano. If I’m in the key of C, I can play a fair amount by ear. Playing them in other keys besides F or G, or reading out of the hymn book is a different story. I’ve been trying to play at least 10 hymns through a day, and play them through in order so I can’t skip the ones in four sharps or flats. I’m also finding I really don’t like flats.
Since my transposition skills are severely lacking, my game plan is something like this: transcribe familiar hymns into numbered chords, and practice them in all 12 keys. I also think it might be helpful to pick, say, a key for a day, and play every hymn or song I can think of in that key.
I’m also discovering that I have a certain point at which I can’t sight read anymore without a lot of effort. I’ll be playing through a piece and my mind will just quit. It might be that I get distracted, and I no longer have the focus needed to sight read. Whatever it is, it can be conquered, but with what effort? I also see it as a reminder to take a break. My hands have bothered me a bit here and there since I’ve been playing the piano more.
Posted by Bonnie under Uncategorized
May 6th, 2009 at 6:30 am
I love ministering in nursing homes. It is wonderful to be a part of filling the needs of those who pray for someone to come, someone young and lively and loving. We need to get back into it. Good for you, Bonnie, and I hope you get to do it.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:09 am
I’m so glad you posted a picture! Thanks~
I wish you well at the transposing thing. I’m very dependent on having the music in front of me and think it’s really neat when someone can play by ear or change the notes to a different key (and they’re using the same book I am! Hmmmm….)
May 6th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Do you have any other ideas, Stacey, on things to do at nursing homes?
And Cora - I’m amazed when people can play in all keys by reading off a page! It seems like lightning brain action must occur.
May 6th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Bonnie,
Thanks for the picture. We have wanted to meet your husband but a picture is better than nothing. I have visited nursing homes many times, but as an older person myself, I connect differently than you would. We usually sing some reqested songs and then a short devotional with comments from the residents if it seems appropriate. We have been blessed with several ladies who transpose as if it were a gift and I am sure that it is. God will bless your effort to minister to them. I think they would love to hear you play some songs on your guitar.
Don
May 6th, 2009 at 10:10 am
My family and I started out playing in Nursing Homes on the first Thursday of every month for years!
It always made me so sad when there were residents that were perfectly in their right minds, but didn’t have family (for one reason or another) that took care of them at home. It seemed like they were simply put on a shelf due to supposed uselessness. 
Of course that is not the way that God intended it to be, but due to sin entering the world, things changed. My parents will not be in a nursing home, if we children have anything to say about it. 
I am just learning how to play chords by ear. I started on the violin (classically and bluegrass) so I can play melodies by ear, providing they are not tooooo complicated. But chords are another thing, for me!
If you ask the Father to show you His will for playing excellently by ear, He is faithful. The more that I have turned over “my” life to Him, asked Him to sanctify me for His Kingdom, and asked that He bring every part of my life into His order (He is not a God of confusion) the more doors have opened! But of course you already know that Bonnie! 
Thanks for posting the long-awaited picture! Generalismo has been rather colorless lately…hint, hint!
Dianna
May 9th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Hi Bonnie,
In addition to the idea posted about regular services there, many folks would be happy just to have someone stop in for a chat. The staff would have ideas of where to start with that. If you have your guitar with you, I’m sure they would love to have you play. I’m not sure how it would work, but I’ve always thought it would be nice to get a little group together and kind of stroll the halls while playing and singing (suppose that would be easiest at Christmastime). That way, even those who couldn’t get to a service b/c of room confinement would be blessed by music and love.