Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

We all get and pass around stories like this, but on occasion one comes around at just the right time. This came from my wife’s childhood piano teacher and for me at least puts my little efforts here on the web into perspective.

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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star>> Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano,> a mother took her boy to a Paderewski (see foot note) concert. > After they were seated,> the mother spotted an old friend in the audience and walked down the > aisle to greet her. >> Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall,> the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door > marked "NO ADMITTANCE.">> When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin,> the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was > missing Suddenly,> the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway > on stage.>> In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, > innocently picking out "Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star.">> At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance,> quickly moved to the piano,> and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit.""Keep playing." >> Then, leaning over,> Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass > part. > Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child,> and he added a running obbligato. >> Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could > have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative > experience. >> The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the > great master played.>> Only the classic, " Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.">> Perhaps that's the way it is with God.>> What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy.>> We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. > However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be > beautiful.>> The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. > You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't > quit." "Keep playing." >> May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there,> helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.>> Remember, God doesn't seem to call the equipped, rather, He equips the > 'called.'> Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the > things you acquire. > So touch someone by passing this little message along.>> May God bless you and be with you always! >   ***Paderewski, Ignace Jan

	
Born:   Kurylowka, Poland, 1860Died:   New York,  1941	aged 80
	
He composed his first piece at the age of 6, and at 12 entered the Warsaw Musical Institute, studying piano and theory, and graduating as a pianist in 1878. In 1881 he went to Germany to study counterpoint and orchestration, and from 1884 to 1887 he stayed in Vienna, studying piano and earning a living by teaching.  In Paris in 1888 and in London in 1890 he was acclaimed as a great master of the piano; he travelled widely, and visited America. In 1899 he settled in Switzerland.  From 1910 he took an interest in politics, becoming in time the epitome of Polish patriotism, and prime minister of Poland in 1919.  He resigned a year later. He was a great philanthropist and was decorated by Poland, Great Britain, Belgium, France and Italy, and received a great number of honorary degrees.