Thank You Mrs. Byrn

Dear Mrs. Byrn,

I was talking with my brother a few weeks ago about our musical histories. Craig and I took piano lessons for more than a decade, with a few pauses in-between. We had several piano teachers along the way, each with different styles of teaching and different tastes in music. I learned important musical lessons from each of my teachers, but I appreciate most the short time that I spent learning from you, my last piano teacher. I wish I had spent more time in your training.

The conversation with Craig made me want to contact you, update you on my past few years and thank you for your thorough, beneficial tutelage. I searched for your email address online, but had no luck. A few days later, I was chatting with my Dad over Skype, and we started talking about piano. I would like to buy one for my flat here in Vienna, and my Dad has offerred to split the cost with me. I miss being able to play the piano, and don't want to completely lose the ability.

I have decided to get a piano as soon as I can afford one, so I don't forget the things you taught me. You challenged me to improve my piano skills. You preferred to teach classical music (which is also what I prefer to play). With you I learned Beethoven, Haydn, Rachmaninov, Tschaikovsky, Mozart and more. You pushed me to improve, and worked hard to ensure that I learned musical theory, in addition to new, more difficult pieces.

Toward the end of my lessons with you, I played an advanced duet arrangement (20 fingers) of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah) as your partner in our main, annual recital. I realize now what an honor that was, and how proud of me you must have been. During the time of my last lessons with you, I was practicing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and trying my hands at the first pages of Tchaikovsky's Concerto in Bb minor Andante non troppo e molto maestoso (MIDI). I plan to buy a piano as soon as I can afford one, and work on perfecting both of those pieces - in your honor.

Thank you Mrs. Byrn.

Patricia Ann Byrn (September 14, 1940 - February 27, 2005) passed away 2 weeks before I located her contact information.