When I was in elementary school, I learned piano. Every Thursday or Friday I went to a teacher and learned piano. When I got serious about learning how to play piano, I switched to a well-renowned teacher in the Lower Mainland whom many budding concert pianists had learned their craft from: Edward J. Parker, the uncle of Jon (Jackie) Parker and father of renowned concert pianist Ian Parker. I can still remember Saturday mornings at Edward Parker's studio in Burnaby struggling to learn the scales and the Grade 10, Royal Conservatory syllabus, namely Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata and Debussy's La Cathedrale Engloutie. I was hoping to go after my ARCT (teaching) - I was too scared to touch performance with a ten-foot pole. I probably was his most aggravating student by far; absolutely infuriating. I'm just glad that he put up with me.
When I went into Douglas College, I was placed on academic probation, which meant that if my marks weren't up to par, I was out of the music program. At that time I had no idea of what I was in for in terms of competition. I also had no idea of just how talented the people I was trying to compete against were. And I was wayyyy out of my depth.
I'm sure that Ed Parker was hurt when I switched majors in mid-first semester to voice, under Ruth Huang Suzuki. It just happened that I got better marks in voice than I did academically in Piano. I just couldn't keep up with the likes of the other piano students who were more focused than I could ever be. But it was only a matter of delaying the inevitable. I couldn't keep up with music history or theory and trying to ascertain what the music or what major or minor interval transition was played in the course of a piece of music just confused the living daylights out of me.
Poor Edward Parker, I'm sure he couldn't figure out why it was that I was doing so badly and couldn't understand the basics of what I was supposed to be comprehending. But frankly, I was a square peg being hammered into a round hole two sizes too small.
I have had the opportunity to connect with a number of my friends from college days and I'm sure that they never knew just how much trouble I had with the music program or why it was that I was always at the bottom of the class list in fear of failing my grade. I masked my musical ineptitude with humor and became the college class cutup and that's how I bided my time until I could take no more of the low grades and dropped out.
Now that I know that photography is my niche and my skill; I can go back with head held high and say "I found what it was that I was meant to do." I wasn't meant to compete with musicians that I have no talent or business competing with. My skill lies behind the viewfinder of a camera bringing out the beauty in the natural world and wildlife. And I hope that one day, I will get the eagle photo of my life's quest. Because that will be the one large canvas that will hang in Edward J. Parker's studio, a loving gift to an ever-patient teacher who tried his best to teach piano to a misfit student. Thank you, Edward J. Parker. For instilling me with a love of classical piano music - a love that has still continued to this day with the enjoyment of the works of Beethoven, Debussy, Chopin and Mozart.
Is the photo of the man sitting at the piano a photo of Dr. Edward Parker? I lived down the street from Edward Parker as a girl. I wish I had studied piano with him, instead of the teachers I had.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is a photo of Edward Parker
ReplyDeleteIt was a screen-cap from a video. I would love to get the opportunity to photograph a portrait of my former piano teacher.
DeleteDid Dr. Edward Parker teach piano at Douglas College when you were a student? Is he still teaching there? if not, where is he teaching now?
ReplyDeleteI was in Douglas College from 1990 to 1992 and yes, Edward Parker was my teacher for Piano Studies. I transferred from a Piano Major to Vocal Major.
DeleteIn answer to your question regarding where he is teaching now, I'm not exactly sure. The last time I had contact with him was when I went into real estate which was 1994-1995. I believe he's retired now, but teaching privately though where I'm not sure. I remember when Ian was a little kid.
DeleteI just found this site after doing a search for Edward Parker. I too was a student of Mr. Parker. I was lucky enough to be able to study under him when he came to the Conservatory of Music in Victoria, BC. I got my ARCT under him in 1986. He was a great inspiration to me and helped instill a love of music in me. I remember one particular lesson where I hadn't practiced. Mr. Parker knew it but instead of making me feel guilty he just used the lesson time to talk to me. I was very aware of how much time and money I had wasted though so for my future lessons I worked hard for him. He always knew how to get the best out of me. I live in Australia now andI taught piano for 22 years but these days I just play for my own enjoyment . I find if my technique gets rusty I just play Mozart! Cheers, Wendy Reyno
ReplyDeleteWendy, I'd have to say my technique wasn't good enough for Mozart. I do have a sadomasochistic streak in me. When I get stressed (I've been considering getting a piano again) I turn to JS Bach.
DeleteBach is good! MAr Parker had always told me to play Mozart if I didn't have time to practice. To his day I still play the Mozart piece I learned under him when I haven't sat down at the piano for a while. Perhaps you could also try Liszt or Rachmaninoff if you really want to be cruel to yourself! Actually anything classical is good for the soul so to speak. It's nice to reminisce about Mr Parker. Not only was he a great pianist in his own right but a wonderful teacher.
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