A Missing Presence in the Wings

At this time of year, with the buzz of the annual Christmas Recital coming up, I’m thinking about dad so much more. I know grief is a different process and journey for everyone, but I’ve found if really tough these last few years coming to terms with his death.

I miss him in Mezzo…his music, his laugh, his jokes, his advice.

He was my dad, my work colleague, my pal, my confident, my musical encyclopaedia

When we started selecting Christmas songs for the upcoming recital, I found myself looking through his numerous music folders in the building. The amount of songs he tabbed and made chord sheets for is unbelievable! His dedication was second to none. He would sit in his studio with the headphones on and guitar in hand, breaking down each song by ear, note by note, and work out the exact chords and lead parts.

Upon seeing his lovely hand writing, I found myself rubbing my hand along the page over his writing, somehow trying to feel close to him.

Dad loved to be around his family at Christmas and we are blessed to have had such love and of course the many sing songs we can have fond memories of. All the grandchildren were encouraged to play their instruments as they were growing up and I’m sure they will relish in those memories as they grow older.

He loved the buzz about the recitals and encouraged all his students to take part. He worked long hours with them, to help them achieve their performance goals. His students absolutely loved him, and so many parents have sent in words of thanks over the years, expressing how dad helped and guided and their child in so many ways over the years.

Dad was always hugely involved in the rehearsals leading up to recitals and on the day, he would take part in performances and always be at the wings to support his students ….(he still does this I’m sure). Mom loves the recitals too and she is delighted her 2 grandsons (my sons) are playing on the same song in the Christmas Recital this week.

Both my boys had the pleasure of learning guitar with dad. Ethan, from the age of 5 learned acoustic and electric guitar and dad patiently guided him over 10 years, to become a fantastic guitar player, while aways making sure he was loving his lessons and his many performances. Dad was so proud when he watched Ethan on stage (age 11 at the time) taking the lead guitar on Running Down a Dream (Tom Petty) with a band of teenagers who were age 15-17 years!

Nevan (my youngest) also took guitar lessons with dad and they had such a laugh together. He used to hide under the table in dad’s teaching room, to avoid going to his theory class! Dad would say to me after the guitar lesson that he couldn’t believe how someone so young was so keen to learn songs with tricky rhythms and difficult strumming techniques! Nevan was also learning piano and violin at the time as he wanted to try lots of instruments so he could pick his favourite! He settled on the piano in the end, and now, (almost 14) he is playing to a very high level which would have made dad so proud. Nevan can’t walk past the piano without sitting down and playing …exactly like dad with the guitar. He messes around with chords and melodies and composes regularly with ease…. like his grandad. Their final conversation was actually about composing melodies and writing lyrics!

I was delighted to discover that the gift of music goes full circle, when two of dad's students (Nathan and Brian) began to teach at Mezzo.They walked in on their first day of teaching, with folders of music that Willie had given him, and now they are passing these notes on to the next generation of children in the academy. Dad would be thrilled to know that all his hard work over the years, making those meticulous notes, was not just for his own students, but for so many other students who will now benefit from them.

I’ll sign off with a lovely testimonial sent to dad a few years ago.

Wishing you all a Merry and Musical Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Sonya

“Willie I write to firstly show my appreciation in the way you have taken my grandson as probably a reluctant pupil to one who adores his music now and the lovely friendship he has with you. He absolutely looks up to you and enjoys his classes. His progress has been like a butterfly you received him as a caterpillar and slowly and gently turned him into a beautiful butterfly. You have been the most influential teacher in his life and I want you to know that Willie. Your Daughter runs a wonderful school which is also credit to you as a Dad. So thank you Willie and continue your wonderful work with all the lovely children attending your classes. Well done.