In December 2013, I was given the gift of a new wooden file cabinet for Christmas. As soon as things finally calmed down over the holidays, I began to re-organize (for probably the fourth or fifth time in the past 10 years) all of my sheet music, including collections for piano, organ, violin and voice, as well as my extensive hymnal collection, Musical Theatre collection, and any notes and performance programs I still have. While doing so, I found a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 typing paper, with the following written by Joy Patrick, in blue ink. I was a piano and organ student of Joy Patrick from 1992-2000. Needless to say, I was overcome with sentimentality, emotion, and gratefulness that I found this gem, written in her elegant and endearing handwriting. I still regret that we were not able to have one last visit before her journey to eternal paradise, and even more so that she wasnt able to hear me play once more, or that we could have possibly played a duet again (we played the organ and piano duet It is Well With My Soul many times; that would have been what we played). God had other ideas. I think it is safe to say that Joy possibly told someone in paradise that she wanted to make sure anyone she gave this to (probably most of her students, at one point or another) found it after her passing. For me, it happened to occur shortly after I decided to re-open my private piano and voice studio and was moved, for some random reason, to re-organize my sheet music. Coincidence? I think not. Joy always knew exactly what was most important - and, therefore, what do do, when to do it, and precisely how to say it so anyone would understand the point she knew she had to make (though sensitively and kindly, it was always without mincing any words or tolerating any crap). The handwritten edition now resides in an antique brass frame, and I have been integrating it into my lessons, whenever I know its exactly what the student needs to hear. Thank you, Joy. You are missed. We have no one to replace you, and I am personally just fine with that. And thank you Larry, Matt, John, and Britt for sharing her with us. How lucky and blessed we all are to have had her in our lives, and to have known the Joy she brought to the heart of anyone and everyone she knows. ~ ~ ~ How does the music make you feel? How do you want the listener to feel? What are you going to do to create that feeling? What does the music say? How can you convey the message? How do you hear the melody? Tape your self and compare what you hear on tape w/what you hear in your mind. -Joy Patrick, ca. 1995 — in Salina, KS.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:56:22 +0000
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