Its value lasts a lifetime.

                                        Music education stimulates    

                                     challenges, and enriches our

                                      young people during their

                                       formative s     chool years.

                                      Its value lasts a lifetime.

                                             DECISIONS

This statement awoke memories of how music has dominated my life. Many decisions during my life have been based on my love of music. Opportunities have come about which wouldn’t have been possible without music in my life. Friends made, hours and hours of practice, developing a love for many genres of music, and playing for venues of which I had never dreamed.

It all began with the big old Gulbrandson piano which was in our home when I was born. My older sisters played a little and had many 40’s popular tunes available. I was intrigued

Decision time. At age five my parents arranged for me to take lessons with Bill Knittle in Shenandoah. Good old Thompson music book, No. 1. My first recital was a sight to behold. Temperamental redheaded Sue refused to play without the book and threw a regular fit until I was allowed to do so. I think I was using five notes in each hand. Tough stuff.

Decision time. At age 7 or 8 my parents found a wonderful music teacher, Jean Henshaw, who in later years became a dear friend. After several years with her, at age 11, she said I needed to find someone who could take me further as I had progressed so far that she could do no more for me.

Decision time. My dad arranged for me to take lessons from Professor Doughty at Tarkio College which was 12 miles south of where we lived. How intimidating was that!!!! He required that I practice two hours a day, focusing basically on Hannon exercises, Bach, Beethoven and Chopin. His studio held two baby grands and he often played with me. Without realizing it, I also learned much music theory from him. During these years, my parents and I attended Civic Music in Shenandoah where I was exposed to some of the best classical music in the country. One concert which I will never forget was the Vienna Boys choir.

Decision time. When I was in 5th grade at Farragut, I joined the band and at first played a valve trombone which in later years stood me in good stead to be able to play a baritone. I soon bought a slide trombone which I then played though most of high school.

Our church had a children’s choir and at its height we had 25 singing from the youngest to my age who were in high school. Our organist and choir director, Eleanor Pierson, had her music degree and we learned a great deal while having a great time. All of those my age and younger sang from time we were wee ones until we left home for other endeavors.

Decision time. I had thought a great deal about getting a music degree which would require a foreign language. Shenandoah offered Latin, so with my parents’ permission, I transferred to Shenandoah my freshman year. This was probably one of the best decisions I ever made. As a freshman ,age 13, I played first chair trombone through my junior year when I switched to baritone. Doc Creighton became our band director my freshman year. Was he good! Having been a Marine, you’d better believe we could march and was a tough task master with our music He went on to have 31 years of I’s at State Contest. Early morning practices at the football field were a daily requirement during football season. The first time we marched in a parade was to honor President Truman who was visiting Shenandoah.

One wonderful surprise at Shenandoah was that we had two of the best choir directors in the country-Mr. Kjelson and Mr. Larson.

Our vocal music department put on several performances during each year, the biggest being the Variety Show, which was a sell out for three nights running. And such variety. Talent flowed from those whom one would least expect. Again, I learned much theory, which was so helpful later on. During these years I did a lot of accompanying for those singing and playing at contest and for some of the variety shows. This, in turn, led to a job playing for Connie Stewart Dance studio each Saturday for a 12 hour stretch. I learned to sight read in a hurry, besides learning about the history of vaudeville from her mother, Lindy, Haven taken dance lessons as a child was an added bonus and it was a fun, fun time. I played music from many eras and genres.

After the Everly Brothers left for Nashville, Creighton formed a dance band which would play for the school dances at the Elks Lodge. Music was my life during those high school years, of that there is no doubt. Also during high school, I would play for church on occasion and one summer played for a church in Shenandoah.

Decision time. Where to go to college. By this time I had decided to major in education and get a minor in music. At that particular time, Central Missouri State in Warrensburg had a wonderful music department as well as theatre. As a Thespian I was also a lover of theatre. One of my favorite teachers had gone there and persuaded me and a couple of guys to attend school in Warrensburg. My freshman year there I took first year music theory under the tutelage of a Professor from Julliard. Had it not been for all of the theory and a good musical foundation, I would have been in trouble as two thirds of the class flunked out. I sailed through that. One quarter I had private piano lessons. The acapella choir was usually reserved for upper classmen, but with my singing background, I was the only freshman in this prestigious group. Everything was sung acapella except for the Hallelujah Chorus during that year. There was a competition of sororities and fraternities of musical performances. My sorority weren’t really singers, but surprisingly we came in second in the competition with me as director. All of the other directors were upper classmen music majors. A joint effort by my group really paid off.

Decision time!!! I decided to get a two year degree in IA to teach education. CMSU did not have the proper curriculum, so at the last minute I transferred to NWMS in Maryville. While I did not pursue my music minor, I did sing in the choir which was fun and worked with my schedule. I was going to teach the next year but was offered a job as dorm counselor which paid almost all of my expenses.

Decision time!!! Job offer in Avoca, IA to teach fifth grade. So off I went at the age of 19 with three and half years of college under my belt. (I had gone to summer school that summer) That was the only year of my life where I was not immersed in music of some type but instead married the love of my life, Jim, during Thanksgiving. That ended my teaching career for 10 years. But during those years, wherever we lived, I gave many piano lessons, played at various churches, and directed church choirs. When we moved to Audubon, three ministers knocked on my door the first week, to see if I would play for them. The entire time we lived there I played for the Methodist Church and conquered the organ without any lessons, directed the Christmas program and was in charge of the music for Bible School. The community held a PTA Variety Show, a yearly event, For three years I played for the entire show. Always a sellout for two nights. Also in the picture were weddings, funerals, and piano lessons. My two children were immersed in music from day one.

Decision time. In 1973, we moved back to the Henn family farm fifteen miles southeast of Clarinda. My children were in school, so I went back to NWMSU full time because courses had been added during those ten years for my degree. The only playing I really did that year was as organist for Eastern Star. Then off to school I went as a first grade teacher with my first grade son. During the three years I taught first grade, we sang daily, as there was a piano in the room. And I heard about it if it didn’t happen. Also played for the vocal instructor as she did not play the piano. I changed grades from first to third and then sixth.

Decision time. There was a need for a full time organist and choir director at the Disciples of Christ Christian Church in Clarinda I had missed playing for church, weddings and funerals, so besides teaching full time, I found the time to practice and prepare choir music for, at that time a large choir. I was now teaching in Clarinda so on Wednesday evenings I just stayed in town and practiced before choir practice and then again on Saturdays. Playing there and in Audubon were so satisfying. Through all of these activities throughout the years I made so many friends and had such great experiences. I have played at many churches here in Clarinda to fill in or for funerals, etc. The last church I played for full time was the Catholic Church here in Clarinda for almost ten years for two masses on the weekend. Jim had passed away and I remarried a devout Catholic. I studied liturgy and accompanied a wonderful cantor. I enjoyed working with the priests and loved the music of the mass. We lived in Bedford for most of those ten years and I accompanied all the Bedford students for vocal and instrumental contest, group contest and the musical, “Joseph and His Amazing Dream Coat.”

Decision time: My husband, Chuck, developed ALZ so my only playing then was that each time I went to the Maryville Nursing Home, I would play and he would sing. Throughout his illness, he could still sing his country western favorites. I planned on moving back to a condo in Clarinda and donated my piano to the nursing home, as they were in dire need of a decent one. I bought a keyboard and until recently have subbed a bit here and there, played at the nursing homes, and played for a few funerals. However, all good things must come to an end. My wrists aren’t letting me do what needs to be done, so I have shut the case on the keyboard and am now content to listen to good music of many different genres.

Many of my decisions in life have had to do with music. It has played such an important part of my life and given me much joy, satisfaction and made many, many dear friends along the way.oHH Hopefully, through those years, I have given congregations and audiences some pleasure On what basis do you make decisions? Looking back, for me, it’s been music!!!!!