By Nila Harris
I love all instruments, but my ultimate favorite is the piano. There’s something about the sound those 88 keys put out — especially by talented pianists.
My favorite pianist is Sandy Gabbard, a friend at Turner Ridge Baptist Church. She has such an incredible talent. Gabbard makes the music come alive and adds so much to the songs.
I’ve told her, “I know the notes you played were not on that sheet music!”
She always manages to put “extra” in and expand the song.
Gabbard will tell you that she has been given a gift and believes that it is her duty and joy to share with others.
Even while experiencing double vision from a brain tumor, Gabbard played on.
You can hear her beautiful music on Facebook Live each Sunday, but it’s much better in person.
Another favorite local pianist is Adarin Williams. Williams has been playing music all his life and tends to put extra “pizazz” in his playing.
I enjoyed watching him tickle the ivories when he worked at Southern Elementary School, and I continue to listen to him play at Falmouth Christian Church on Facebook Live.
Watching Williams’ enthusiastic playing is reminiscent of when I saw Mike Whaley play. Whaley would play a piece, be all over the keyboard and not even have a sheet of music.
Amy McKinney is an amazing pianist who began playing music for the high school choir while she was still in high school. She continues to play for her church — Falmouth Baptist.
A young musician following a similar path is Kip Gregg. Gregg has played for the middle school choir for the past two years while being a middle schooler himself.
Incidentally, this talented young man is a former piano student of Gabbard.
Local pianist Darryl Ammerman laughingly told how many people think that he is Catholic, because he has played for St. Frances Xavier Church for 30 years. Ammerman plays for his home church, Falmouth United Methodist, each Sunday. Ammerman also played for my wedding 35 years ago.
A professional pianist that I love to listen to is Trey Ogle. He performs “Saturday morning coffee and hymns” at Trey Ogle Music on Facebook and YouTube.
I often listen to him if I’m having trouble sleeping. Ogle has a calming effect, playing traditional Christian hymns.
World Music Day is celebrated on the 88th day of the year since there are 88 keys on the piano. Typically, this falls on March 29. It’s on March 28 this year due to extra day added to the calendar for leap year.
It is a day set aside to celebrate this instrument and the many musicians who bless the world with their talent.
WMD was initiated by German pianist and composer Nils Frahm in 2015.
“The idea behind it was to celebrate the piano across the world by holding events, masterclasses, lectures, etc.,” according to nationaltoday.com .
The piano was created because a musician was displeased by the volume level of the harpsichord. Bartolomeo Cristofori of Italy is credited with “switching out the plucking mechanism with a hammer to create the modern piano around the year 1700,” according to yamaha.com .
Pianos have changed in many forms and prices since then.
The most expensive piano ever sold was the piano from the movie “Casablanca,” selling at auction for $3.4 million in 2014.
This piano has never been heard publicly. The actor in the movie didn’t know how to play, so while Dooley Wilson (who played Sam in the movie) mimicked playing, a real pianist played the music offscreen.
Fortunately, if you are interested in purchasing a piano, most new uprights will cost around $3,000 to $10,000, while a used could run anywhere from $500 to $5,000 — still expensive but not as much as the Casablanca piano!
For World Piano Day, listen to some piano music. Celebrate the local talent of people in our community who share their love of the instrument with us.
Consider taking piano lessons and learning the craft yourself. Many years ago, I took lessons from Hilda Cockayne in Butler. Poor Ms. Cockayne had her work cut out for her, trying to teach me.
Thank you to the many people who share their incredible talents on the keyboard.