February 2021 Member Spotlight - Barb Christenson

[Katie Rushing]

Hi PWJ Members! 

This month's spotlight goes to..........

Barb Christenson!  @Barb C

Please join with me in congratulating her!

Where are you from?
I live in Bothell, WA (about 20 miles NE of Seattle).  I grew up in Edmonds, WA.  (about 20 miles NW of Seattle)
 

When did you start playing piano?
I took a few piano lessons, the summer I turned 7, but my teacher went off to college that fall. She encouraged me to call her former piano teacher and start lessons with her. We didn't end up doing that until I was 9.  In the 2 yrs in-between, I was able to read notes, so I would sit down at the piano often and made my way through several lesson books that we had around.  I especially enjoyed playing through Mary Poppins and Sound of Music books.  I have fond memories of playing "Let's Go Fly a Kite" for my classmates and "Edelweiss" for an all-school Talent Show. And then I was very happy to start actual piano lessons. My piano teacher's name was Ardis Ostrom and she was an amazing, warm-hearted, classy teacher.  She had been a concert pianist and had expertise and high expectations. I will forever be so grateful to her for her impact on my life, and to my parents for paying the tuition for the 8 years that I took lessons. 

 

What got you interested in learning music?
I grew up loving music and would spend a lot of time at the piano in the living room, even before taking formal lessons.  My mom played the piano and guitar. I'm pretty sure all of my 4 older siblings were made to take piano at some point.  I was the only one who really wanted lessons and enjoyed them. 

 

What is your favorite style of piano music?

That's a really hard question to answer because I love so many styles.  It's hard to rank them.  But I guess because I have more experience with it, I'll say Classical....or maybe it's Hymns....or is it.....;) ?  I actually think whatever I'm listening to at the time or whatever music is in front of me - that's my favorite. Now at PWJ, there's a whole new set of styles that I've not had a lot of exposure to before, but I'm really enjoying learning, so this seems a very difficult question for me.

 

Do you have any favorite pieces to play?
Yes, and far too many favorites to list them all, but 4 that easily come to mind are:  Beethoven Sonata No.8, Op.13 (Adagio Cantabile), It Is Well With My Soul, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, and Jonny's Disney Medley.  

 

What has helped you most in improving as a pianist?
I think I have been helped the most by influential people and opportunities.  The people who impacted me the most were of course, my childhood piano teacher, my middle school choir director and my parents. My piano teacher pushed me constantly, in a very caring and encouraging way.  She provided opportunities to enter adjudications and recitals.  On Fridays, several of her students would get together and play for each other and we'd tell things we liked about someone's playing and also give peer critiques. My choir director, David Little, is the person I give a ton of credit to, for starting me on a lifetime of sightreading and accompanying skills.  In 7th grade, he asked me to accompany the 8th grade choir. I was afraid of the older, taller kids(haha) and so I learned very quickly how to read and follow along with singers. The encouragement and opportunity he provided me in 7th and 8th grade was the foundation for many opportunities and jobs that I was able to have after that and ongoing still. My parents have always been supportive and even now, when I hear my dad say, "I just love to listen to you play", it still motivates me to learn and practice and keep improving.  This last year, because we were at home more, and life and schedules were so different, I started playing piano more. In August, I posted my playing on my Facebook page, for the first time. Friends enjoyed it and I knew I'd like to do more of that. Kind-of on a whim, I went to a piano store, thinking that I might like to upgrade my instrument, to get better sound quality in recordings.  I saw one I liked and was telling my dad about it.  He asked how much it was. Later, when I was leaving his house, he handed me a check for the amount of the piano. I just cried. I thanked him for being so generous - I really didn't imagine he would do that.  He smiled and said, "just be sure to record more of your music". And so I do.....;)

 

Do you have any tips for other PWJ members?
I don't always feel particularly qualified to give anyone tips. But ironically, that's exactly what my first tip is about - how we often compare ourselves to others.  I need to often remind myself that there will always be someone who's better at (fill in the blank), than I am. This takes a lot of pressure off.  Then I can have a healthier perspective that leaves me more content, and less competitive.  It helps me have more patience in working on my own weaknesses, and helps me honor the fact that someone else may be stronger or more skilled in a certain area.

Other tips that come to mind are some that I put on the piano, the day of the PWJ student recital in November.  I felt SO nervous that morning, but these were really good reminders, and are easily applicable to all of us in our learning, practicing, and sharing music together:

1. You came to have fun, so have fun.
2.  Mistakes are a part of life.  You can face them.
3.  You get points for showing up/trying.
4.  Enjoy and BRING joy!  (My mom use to always say "just enjoy" before I had a performance somewhere.  And it always helped me take a breath and actually relax and enjoy what I was doing.)

 

What is your favorite part of the PWJ membership?
I enjoy learning and playing piano in the midst of so many wonderful people.  I've honestly never experienced so much encouragement.  I'm entertained watching everyone's posts and find it so inspiring to see their progress and creativity.  It's really special to have the variety of levels and personalities that we have in the group.  Jonny, Yannick and Katie have provided the optimal learning environment here. It would be a great resource if it was only courses and videos, but to add the whole PWJ community on top of that.....WOW!

I saw that I've only been here 17 weeks.(?) I had to think if that was correct.  It sounds like a very short time, and yet this group means so much to me.  How have I not known these people all my life? We haven't even met in person yet, and most people,  I've not even heard their voice.  But in the midst of our learning and enjoying so much music together, I know that I'm among friends. I love traveling, so if the world ever opens back up enough to do all of that....where can we meet? ;)

 

What are your future music goals?
My future music goals are to play by ear so that I can take a song request anytime and just play it out, on the spot. I also want to improve my improvising, and  "soloing" (which I'd never heard of until 4 months ago).  I would love to get a job someday, playing at a restaurant or other public place. I would also love to record a CD. And one more "dream" actually, would be to play at Disneyland's Royal Storybook Theater.  A couple years ago, we went to Disneyland a couple times within 6 months, and I would go to watch the performers perform mini-musicals of Tangled and Beauty & the Beast.  Everyone else would sit towards the middle and watch the performers.  I sat behind "Sir Sam" who was playing the piano.  I saw he had music and I thought "just what if....he suddenly falls ill and can't continue?"......I was ready.  I would jump up to the piano and finish out the show for him.  (I love playing for musical theater.) :)

 

Do you have any words you try to live by or a favorite quote?
I have always liked the words of  J.S.Bach, who said, "The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul."  I think of this all the time. When I play or when I'm listening to music even, it is amazing to me that we have such a privilege.  God's created my hands and my fingers and my mind.  It's nothing short of a miracle that we all do what we do - piano or otherwise.  But in terms of the gift we're given to be able to physically play the piano, and then to admire the intricacies of music itself....I'm left in awe of a Creative God. So, in that, every time I play it's to His credit and glory. But I also consider that music is a "refreshment of the soul".  I'm sure we all agree on that point.  And that's why the very best comment I love to receive is that something in my playing brought someone happiness, or a smile, a memory, they enjoyed it, or it meant something to them.  I think that's the whole point. As pianists and musicians, to be able to enjoy what we get to do here, I think we're about the most blessed group of people on the planet. :)

 

[Laura U]

Congrats @Barb C!  I can relate to a lot of what you're saying--I also have played for musical theater and loved it-- I've been a rehearsal pianist and a pit orchestra pianist (and also a page turner 🙂 ).  And I tend to fall into the trap of comparing myself to others--OR worrying that someone somewhere is comparing me to someone else. I also like your sayings about having fun and bringing joy! 

 

[Eiress L]

Barb Christenson Congratulations!  

Your piano playing definitely always  refreshes!   I enjoyed your interview video with Katie.    The J.S. Bach quote: " the aim and final end of all music should be the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. "  Loved that!    I may hang that somewhere close to my piano.    You go girl!   

[Ido B]

Congrats @Barb C!  Loved reading your answers and watching your video interview!  I always enjoy your videos!