After a year of lessons with Inez, Waldon C. Ratkie–Wally–became my teacher. A college student majoring in music, he was part-time choir director at our church. He drove his pink Studebaker to the homes of his students since he didn’t have a studio. On piano lesson afternoon, Mom brought one of the chrome kitchen chairs into the dining room and set it out for Wally. He sat down, placing his bulging leather briefcase beside him. It contained file folders of sheet music and instruction books.
Wally was average height with curly red hair, freckles covering his visible skin, and big dark-rimmed glasses. He was an accomplished musician with a quiet personality. He never raised his voice, but calmly and competently led me through learning the basics of music.
The biggest challenge that parents of piano students face is getting their student to PRACTICE regularly. I don’t remember this being conflictual. In my mind, if you took piano lessons, you had to practice every day. I was a compliant child, so I did. My mother’s memories are slightly different, but she says I usually practiced faithfully.
Wally, an innovative teacher for his time, had contests for his students. We received prizes for practicing. We earned busts of piano composer or got stickers on our music. The contest I remember best took place when I was twelve. The young Van Cliburn had just won a piano competition in Russia and was performing in Portland. Wally promised to take two of his students, the two who practiced the most during the contest weeks. That was all the challenge I needed. Determined to win, I practiced an hour before school every day, an hour after school. I was one of the winners.
On a Friday night, Wally picked me up along with Dennis Gano, a cherubic nine year old with curly blond hair and dimples. We drove to the Civic Auditorium in downtown Portland (now Keller Aud.). We sat in the side sections that existed before the auditorium was remodeled in 1967. I don’t know what Van Cliburn played. Being at a concert enthralled me. No one in my family had ever attended a classical concert.
