Norine Stewart

I began taking piano lessons when I was 7, and continued on and off for several years. In high school I took up the double bass, and that was my instrument for 45 years. I’ve been thinking about the article, and its claims that playing an instrument helps children with reading, verbal and math skills, spatial reasoning, languages, general IQ, and confidence. I don’t doubt these claims, but because I was a very average student, very weak in math and spatial reasoning, not confident, nor handling anxiety well, I shudder to think what I would have been like had I not taken music lessons!!!
Nevertheless, I did well playing the bass, and played professionally for 35 years in symphony orchestras. I took up the harp in 2004. What an exciting adventure it has been! Being able to play for patients is deeply fulfilling. I’m so grateful to be able to use my gifts and talents to bring comfort and peace to others! Some of the things that I’ve loved about learning to play the harp with the Bedside Harp method are learning how to play by ear, learning how to create my own arrangements, and learning how to improvise! I love being able to be creative, and love having the means to express what’s deep inside. This is such a blessing! I look forward to many more years of being able to learn and being able to minister to others.