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Where it all began Pt.2

Where it all began

Where it all began Pt.2

After moving to Horsham and finally settling into my new life, I kept making friends with girls that knew how to play piano. (First read Part 1 >>)

Some of them were even taught by my Grandmother, Mrs Schirmer, a local legend and award winning teacher in the classical music scene. And I started wishing I had been offered the opportunity myself. All of my family were brought up with our ‘Gair’ (Grandmother) often disappearing into her music room to be with her students in the morning or of an evening.

Fyerfly and Mrs Schirmer - early 1990's
Fyerfly and Mrs Schirmer - early 1990's

It was second nature that we’d listened to students practising their scales and studies, as we got on with our regular lives outside the music room sliding door. When students weren’t around we were even allowed to play with all the percussive instruments (in the seclusion of the music room, of course) banging on xylophones, drums and clicking sticks etc.

Eventually I got the courage to ask for lessons and began years behind my girlfriends. But what my knowledge and skill lacked, my drive and desire to learn, made up for. And I’m still the same.

Piano lessons with my ‘Gair’ soon spread into theory lessons and ensemble classes and once in high school I started percussion as well. I really wanted to play the flute or sax, but buying one was not an option so I made do with a set of sticks and a practice pad, and seemed to take on the role of the rhythm section with natural ability. This organically grew into local performances with the school band, and band camps.

With high school, came drama classes and my love of stage performing was once again rekindled with acting and singing in support and lead roles. I wanted to improve my confidence and delivery, and so took up vocal training and choir lessons, on top of everything else.

At this point my after school curriculum consisted of before-school piano lessons, after-school vocal training, school band, choir and not forgetting practice every day. I was buried deep and loved every minute of it!

My lifelong obsession with poetry continued to flourish in between the cracks and was never really given much attention as something that could develop into a serious art. I never realised I was a song-writer in training.

But right along side my music development was my life-long love of all things art. My clear talent for design developed into a career option and when confronted with my VCE subject selections I was forced to chose between the two loves of my life. I chose Graphic Design and moved away to study after taking a year off to help pay for some of it. After Uni I moved abroad, working in London on my Aussie visa, then in Melbourne for a stint before setting up my own successful Web & Graphic Design studio that I ran for over 15 years… until my music-calling was singing to me so loudly that I would no longer ignore it…

<< First read Part 1

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10 Comments

Rick Davis (Holly Oak Management)
July 16, 2019 1:22 am

What a wonderful and dedicated story.

Rick Davis
Holly Oak Management

Fyerfly
July 16, 2019 9:33 am

Thank you Rick, just a small part of the journey!

Rene Olague Ortiz
December 20, 2019 4:51 am

Marvelous history princess Fyerfly

admin
December 20, 2019 7:46 am

Thank you Rene. And it’s still unfolding now…!

Bob Fendt
August 9, 2020 5:40 am

Love reading your blogs Fyerfly with great interest, great stories of your lifes loves and passions.

admin
August 9, 2020 7:40 am

My life certainly is full of those ?✨ There’s so much of life to love ❤️

Charles Gorrie
May 21, 2021 3:41 am

Well done to you, firefly, for seeing it through.

admin
May 21, 2021 7:37 am

Thank you Charles

martin
April 12, 2022 9:58 am

Thanks for sharing your story. It certainly made me reflect on the years I was involved in making music in band, orchestra and the fun of pep band. Marty

admin
April 13, 2022 3:03 pm

Hi Marty, thanks for sharing. What did you play?

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