Pink Think: “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” – Henry Ford
Last Wednesday was a bittersweet day for me. I had a piano lesson for the last time.
For four years now, I had been taking piano lessons, and by no means did I feel I was ready to consider myself “done”. (Okay, I admit, part of me was terrified of the biweekly “critique” from my really nice teacher. And part of me felt guilty when I was not able to touch the piano at all some days.)
But it’s time to move on. I will be doing something else.
***
Four years ago, I talked my husband into getting a piano so that my oldest daughter could take lessons. I had an ulterior motive; I wanted to learn how to play the piano, too, and so, at the age of 33, I began. Very basic music at first. By the end of the first year, I could play a simple version of the love theme from “Endless Love”.
And then I got a calling, or assignment, in my LDS church ward to play the piano for Relief Society, or our women’s Sunday class. Despite my misgivings, I accepted. Some days, it was all I could do to not get up from the piano and run crying from the room, I was pretty dismal. But soon, I learned how to just keep playing despite mistakes, and slowly but surely I improved (As I told someone, it could only get better!). Soon, I was playing despite crying babies, chatting women, and my penchant for getting distracted by the beautiful harmonizing.
This past Sunday was also my last day for playing the piano at Relief Society. I will be serving in my ward’s young women’s program, as a leader over the 12-13 year old girls. When I played the last song, I thought I played well despite getting choked up.
***
This is what I’ll be learning instead of piano: clogging.
No, it’s not a plumbing class. Clogging is like tap dancing but with a little more bustle and bounce to it.
For the longest time, I’ve wanted to take up tap dancing, it seems like such a happy dance, but never got around to it…until my recent birthday, when my oldest daughter gave me a DVD of “Singing in the Rain”. Movie’s a little plot-thin, but my oh my, have you ever seen Gene Kelly tap dance?
So I checked once again into tap dancing, known as “clogging” in these parts. And I found a lady who does it, and she said to round up some people, and before you know it, we have a dozen ladies. We start on Tuesday.
I’m still going to keep playing the piano. But I’m excited about this new venture.
***
Go ahead, tap out an answer: What is something you’ve always wanted to learn how to do?
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It might be goofy, but I want to learn to clog too. Irish clog: also called ‘step-dancing’.
Like Riverdance, except with the shirt on.
Oh! Archery.
Ballroom dance for me! The trick is talking the hubster into it…
Hmmm…I think I would like to try martial arts. I am normally not a violent person…but it just sounds like fun!!
Last year I wanted to learn the guitar, that didn’t work out so well for me. I quit when the blisters started forming. 0_0
I would love to take ballroom dancing. The problem…nobody to dance with.
This is great that you keep going with your dreams to learn. Way to live life.
Great for you, taking on these new endeavors! You’re an inspiration, for sure.
BPV: I am not surprised 🙂
Q: A la Emma? (Think Gwyneth Paltrow)
Weston: Hubby and I tried some lessons a while back, and the instructor told me in this snooty voice that I was leading, and I should quit it. 🙂
Tammy: Yeah, it’s hard without a dance partner, eh? But maybe you can hook up with a group?
Janna: Well, I figure I’m role-modeling “how to try something new even if you feel foolish at first” :-).
Terra: HI! I think anyone who does Martial arts is cool. As for guitar, I tried to teach myself, but I didn’t get very far. I need to be in a class situation to be motivated enough 🙂
Master a foreign language. I’m in the middle of muddling through Spanish lessons on CDs trying to recapture my college proficiency!
Clogging… Would that be on account of it souding like clogs clacking on pavement (as with traditional Dutch footwear) or is there a more exotic derivation of the word?
There are so many things I want to learn to do.
I took piano lessons for 7 years, yes 7. I never could get to the point where I could play to people singing with me. NEVER.
Second…I LOVE Singing in the rain. Gene Kelly. Wow. I saw the play on Broadway except Gene Kelly was not in the play.
Next I have always wanted to learn to clog. Or take ballroom dance lessons, and I am sure I would be told to quit too, cause I would surely lead as well!
Next I took Spanish for 4 years. Can I speak it? NOPE!
Write-as in penmanship. I would LOVE to learn to do that better…but being as I have fibromyalgia and carpal tunnel, that may not happen either.
So, what can I do???HMMMM, I am NOT sure! But I am always ready to learn new things!
My buttons…no, I don’t make them…I design them and pay to have them made. I would LOVE to learn how to make them though!
Go to my page and enter to win a button for you page this week!
JWow, you live doing what you want. I also believe in the forever learning too.
I have always wanted to own a health food eatery type place. A really cool one. Where everyone wants to hang out and eat good food. Low lit lights, great background music, and good food and laughter. I know I am dreaming, but thanks for making it possible for a minute. I would do it, but life is calling me in other directions that I am very content with.
Thanks for your sweet comment and sharing your conversion as well. 19 is a very young age to make such a great eternal decision. I most respect you for that.
I love it! I wish I could join your clogging class! I love dancing, but I think my next thing will be a yoga class -although that isn’t a totally new adventure either.
Maybe cake decorating. Someday.
Tap Dance and Clogging have different sounds…I have taken tap for years and years…clogging is higher up and tap is more into the ground…you know what I mean by the time you get into your clogging classes…that is going to be so fuN!
I am actually trying to learn how to play the guitar…I’m so envious that you stuck to your piano lessons so long!
Can’t wait to read more of yoU! 🙂
Okay Pink Ink I figured it out. I just didn’t think to click on the comments button.
I would love to learn how to draw, ballroom or swing dancing, learning Spanish.
I took two years and I learned how to say: No gracias, yo tengo novio.
translation: No thanks, I have a boyfriend.
Hats off to you, Sistah! You love to learn new things and you go for it. A very admirable trait. I learned to play the piano a few years ago, too. Not very talented at it, but now at least I know how to read notes and play. What I want to do is go to an art class. I can draw a bit, but never had professional isntruction so I think I can be better. Hmmm— you have motivated me.
Rachel: Hi there! I took lots of Spanish, too, in college (probably learned the most by attending Latin parties more than anything else :-). My jr. high daughter is taking it now, and I love practicing with her (what little Spanish has stuck with me). Good for you!
Cloudsters: Welcome! Must have something to do with the Dutch footwear, is my guess 🙂
CJ: Wow, how cool would that be, seeing “Singin'” on Broadway!! You sound like a fun person to take a class with 🙂 Go for ’em!
Jan: Wouldn’t that be fun, to own an eatery of your own? My 12 yr old daughter thinks that’d be fun, too, someday. She entered some oatmeal cookies at the state fair recently, so she’s definitely leaning that way. As for the conversion story, you are welcome! And thanks for stopping by.
Heather: Hello! Maybe there’s others in your area that could go in on a clogging class…I kind of had to create this opportunity, ya know? I am excited. I’ve never tried yoga…but it sounds like fun, too.
Rosemerry: Yehey, you figured it out! *I took two years and I learned how to say: No gracias, yo tengo novio.* Funny!
Marivic (and Rosemerry, too, on drawing): Me, too! I’ve self-taught myself, drawing, but have always wanted to take lessons from someone. Well, this past summer, we enrolled my oldest daughter in art lessons. Just six weeks, and she had a wonderful time!! I was really happy for her because that’s the kind of class I would have loved for myself at her age (or any age, for that matter). Yeah, we should go for it, even if it’s just a few classes…
i always wanted to learn to make homemade cider…..or whiskey….who knows……
Sally: Hi and thanks for stopping by.
*cider* Do apples spoiling in a bowl on my counter count?? 🙂
I suppose I should go and sign myself up for those art lessons. I can draw reasonably enough, but have always wanted lessons.
And hubby proposed taking ballroom dancing lessons together.
No more chocolates for me…
Whoa!
Folks, tap, clogging, and step-dancing may all involve noisy feet, but they are different types of dance. I assure you that Kelly did not clog or step-dance.
There are several different types of clogging as well. The oldest is the Smoky Mountain Clog, which contains no shuffles in the feet and looks a bit like the stomping dances of some Native American tribes. (Forgive me, but I cannot name specific dances; my specialties in folk dance do not run in that area.) Then there is Appalachian Clogging, which contains a back drag in the step and is rarely done out West. Most common here in the Rockies would be the Western clog, also called the Sloppy Clog, which contains a ball-change instead of a back drag. Also popular now is buck-stepping, which involves a triple heel step difficult to describe in words alone.
I clogged from 1984 until 2006 (back injury now forbids it). I did UNESCO festivals in Sweden, Finland, Italy, England, the Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, the US, Spain, and China. This is why I know my stuff on this.
Oh, and the taps on the shoes are different as well. Tap dancing (Kelly) most often uses a solid piece of metal. Cloggers MAY use a solid tap, a staccato tap (two pieces held by one screw) or a jingle tap (two pieces, two screws) — or a combination of both styles, one on the toe and one on the heel. This is why clogging sounds different than tap.
Irish dancers I have seen have used either wooden or solid metal pieces to create the sounds for them. But I am not an expert on this.
So, to those of you just getting your toes wet into some different kinds of dancing, please know that you might not be signing up for what you think if you don’t know the difference! Neither Michael Flatley nor Fred Astaire has been known to perform a Smoky Mountain Clog! (I’m sure either could’ve learned, but it’s certainly not a style seen on either of them. And, no, I’m not mixing Astaire with Kelly in style,e ither. They both did tap, and Kelly did ballet as well, but their styles were incredibly different.)
Sorry for the rant.
RC: Lucky you, your hubby proposing the lessons!
PW: Wow, that’s cool that you traveled everywhere to perform. I would have signed up for tap, that was my first choice, but clogging looks fun, too. I’ll have to report more on how it goes.
Two words: FLAMING BATONS!!!
I think you should do taekwondo with Shanna and me! 😉
What an inspiring post! I’m glad that you made it – in playing the piano well enough to perform in front of others.
I have not quite decided what I would like to learn next. Despite being already quite a hobby-junkie, there is so much still that I want to learn. It’s a matter of choosing which one comes first.
All the best to your endeavors!
Tina: Good to “see” you! *flaming batons* What a hot idea! Hey, I wish I could take taekwondo, but with my new calling, there go my free evenings 🙂
Evelyn: Welcome! I’m like you…there’s so much I want to learn, it’s tempting to sign up for everything :-).
All kinds of dancing…clogging, ballroom, salsa…you name it! I LOVE tat you are learning one thing after another, and it sounds like you’re loving it.
Thanks for commenting on my blog, by the way. I love it when new people stop by.
Charette: And thanks too for stopping in. Like you, I love to dance, too! I’d love to take a salsa class. 🙂
Clogging sounds really cool! Changing hobbies is good for the brain, too, so don’t worry. 😉
You are my hero. There are so many things I want to learn how to do and I always just make the time excuse which is certainly a valid one but if I’m honest with myself (which I try not to be) I’ll admit that I’ll never have the time I have to MAKE the time and with that in mind I’m going to join the bellydancing class that a bunch of ladies in the ward are taking.
Oh and I want to learn to clog. And play the piano.
Nathalie: Hi there! You have a good blog going there. Love your philosophy of aiming high :-). I agree, it’s good to change things around in a little while; clears the cobwebs in the brain:-)
Alison: Cute blogger name 🙂 and welcome! *bellydancing* Cool! I hope you do it with your ward sisters! To be honest, it was either clogging or bellydancing for me…and clogging won out :-). (I did a bellydancing video as my daily workout for a while, does that count?) As for piano, well, I’m proof that anyone can start even as an adult!