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Back in the days when television didn't reign supreme, music played a much larger part in the entertainment of family and friends. So much so, that every home had a piano and more often than not at least one member of the family could play it. That's certainly the way it was in our family. And, for me as the designated pianist, I can honestly say that it was a pleasure to do it, even though I didn't act that way sometimes.

Part of the challenge for me was finding sheet music that I liked, especially at Christmas time. I always felt that the piano arrangements were quite boring and lacked a certain joie de vivre. I think that's why I eventually started learning improvisation so that I could make up my own arrangements. And, because I didn't like the standard Christmas versions in print, I always acted like I didn't want to play. That drove my mother crazy.

Mom couldn't understand why I wouldn't use my talent more often. But, I know and I hid the truth from her. I was afraid. I was afraid of being judged by others and that I wasn't worthy enough. The fact is though, I was better than most. So, what individuals thought didn't really matter at all. But, it mattered to me at the time and took a long ahile for me to even feel comfortable playing in front of others.

Now, as a professional concert pianist, I of course no longer feel inadequate. Many of my colleagues still do but somehow I managed to get rid of that fear of playing mentality. It wasn't easy let me tell you, but I did it. One of the ways I did it was to finally realize that when I perform it's not about me at all but about entertaining individuals and making sure they have a worthy experience.

For anyone thinking of making music a profession that's so necessary to remember. Many musicians think that it's all about them and they have to sell themselves to an audience. That's so backwards. The only thing a professional musician should be selling to an audience is the promise of a worthy time. Man, did it take me a long time to learn that lesson.

In any case, more than ever I love to play the piano at Christmas time. Now that my mom has passed away my Dad has taken it upon himself to carry on the family tradition. So much so that, he actually built a large heated garage beside the main house where he can host a hundred individuals at a time. He even put the family piano in there.

This year 2006 will see nearly a thousand individuals come to the family hobby farm and I'm expected to play for most of them. That's ok though, I love it. Why? Because, I know that a worthy dose of music and caroling will remind them of a worthy old fashioned Christmas. You remember, like the ones you used to have before television?

Christmas caroling works much better with the ultimate Christmas sing-a-long CD. The music is performed the the author concert pianist Paul Tobey who has created a collection of Christmas sheet music.