Profiles in Life & Music
Meet some of the people who make the Hot Springs Concert Band a special community of musicians.
Eileen Miller: A Life Blessed with Music
Once upon (in real) time, there was a little girl who loved music…any kind of music. She loved listening to her mother’s favorite style of music; opera(!). Her mother loved opera so much that she named her only daughter Eileen (after, the then famous Eileen Farrell).
As time went on, Eileen found that singing was another musical outlet she adored. In 1949, the now famous (but at the time) recently published Christmas song on the radio was “Rudoph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Her kindergarten teacher challenged the class to sing it as a group, but it seemed a failure to the teacher as none of the children could remember all the reindeer names. Well, Eileen raised her hand and announced to the class that she could do it and, to the surprise of her fellow classmates, she remembered the reindeer names and sung her little heart out to her fellow kindergarteners as a solo.
Fast-forward a few more years to Eileen asking her parents if she could have a piano to learn how to play.
Her father’s livelihood as a Tool and Die Maker paid just enough to comfortably feed a family of five as well as to afford to clothe them. Despite the financial drawbacks, there was a special day for Eileen when she was a fourth grader. Upon arriving home from school one afternoon, Eileen walked into the living room to find a brand-new spinet piano purchased… just for her!
Within two weeks, Eileen’s piano lessons began! She continued her weekly walk to her lessons through high school.
During her first two years of college at Gustavus Adophus College in St Peter, Minnesota, Eileen had enrolled as a nursing student. During those years, she avoided the piano completely. For some reason, she did not feel fulfilled by the instrument any longer. Her life…music…piano music specifically! She decided that she would like to learn how to teach piano in her home but wanted to be trained to do so. The local community college in Livonia, Michigan announced that a Piano Pedagogy class was going to be offered to perspective students who are interested in learning how to become a certified piano teacher and earn an associate degree by doing so. She was hooked!
Upon completion of the pedagogy curriculum at the community college and receiving an Associate Degree, Eileen continued her studies at Eastern Michigan University in Livonia, Michigan, by earning a Bachelor of Music Degree!
Eileen was FINALLY a classroom Music Teacher!
By that time in her life, her children had grown into young adulthood. It was a long winding road to the goalpost and happily the accomplishment was celebrated by all!
Always ready to try a new skill, Eileen took it upon herself to learn how to play a two-manual organ. She practiced at her home church in Plymouth, Michigan. After she felt confident and skilled enough, she played for her local church’s worship services. Eileen worked diligently enough to venture to even play a few pedals to accompany the congregation in singing the hymns and the liturgy.
After a while, she was asked to play for weddings at her home congregation. It was then that she spread her wings to play at nearby churches. She played not only for weddings, but as a substitute congregational organist when the need was made known to her. One year, on a trip to Mountain Home, Arkansas with their children in tow, Eileen was fascinated by the local history of the Dulcimer. One was purchased along with a how-to book on playing the dulcimer. Eileen devoured the book as she found that she could play and sing some “old-timey” tunes!
During her “free time”, Eileen volunteered to present a free music assembly program at local Michigan elementary schools. She gathered her guitars, dulcimer and other folk instruments to happily introduce fun “sing-along” songs as well as a lesson or two about U.S. folk music history.
Another year, Eileen and Lance decided to spend two weeks in Arkansas…just the two of them(!). Along the journey, they were encouraged to visit Hot Springs Village to consider living there when they were ready to retire. It still amazes both Lance and Eileen that this IS where they landed and have been enjoying “The Good Life” ever since.
Fast forward to Eileen’s retirement years in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas in 2002.
Upon moving to Hot Springs Village, Eileen found herself the sole organist for her new home church for 16 years. She played every Saturday evening as well as Sunday morning worship services. However, due to a health issue, she chose to retire as the congregation’s worship musician. She now continues to offer her musical skills by singing in the choir and substituting as the worship musician when needed.
After Eileen and Lance became comfortable in their new lifestyle, a new Village family friend, Harvey McIntyre, learned about Eileen and her music teaching career. Harvey encouraged her to try out to become a part of the percussion section of the Hot Springs Concert Band. She had never played in a band! She was a solo pianist! She had never played as part of any kind of ensemble before!
Eileen now often recalls how much she has learned that being part of a musical ensemble enriches the lives of not only the audience, but also the performers.
That was 25 years ago as of this writing!
Eileen looks forward to each rehearsal as she seemingly learns more about herself, her dreams and her goals…and she looks forward to seeing YOU at the concert!
By Eileen Miller
Once upon (in real) time, there was a little girl who loved music…any kind of music. She loved listening to her mother’s favorite style of music; opera(!). Her mother loved opera so much that she named her only daughter Eileen (after, the then famous Eileen Farrell).
As time went on, Eileen found that singing was another musical outlet she adored. In 1949, the now famous (but at the time) recently published Christmas song on the radio was “Rudoph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Her kindergarten teacher challenged the class to sing it as a group, but it seemed a failure to the teacher as none of the children could remember all the reindeer names. Well, Eileen raised her hand and announced to the class that she could do it and, to the surprise of her fellow classmates, she remembered the reindeer names and sung her little heart out to her fellow kindergarteners as a solo.
Fast-forward a few more years to Eileen asking her parents if she could have a piano to learn how to play.
Her father’s livelihood as a Tool and Die Maker paid just enough to comfortably feed a family of five as well as to afford to clothe them. Despite the financial drawbacks, there was a special day for Eileen when she was a fourth grader. Upon arriving home from school one afternoon, Eileen walked into the living room to find a brand-new spinet piano purchased… just for her!
Within two weeks, Eileen’s piano lessons began! She continued her weekly walk to her lessons through high school.
During her first two years of college at Gustavus Adophus College in St Peter, Minnesota, Eileen had enrolled as a nursing student. During those years, she avoided the piano completely. For some reason, she did not feel fulfilled by the instrument any longer. Her life…music…piano music specifically! She decided that she would like to learn how to teach piano in her home but wanted to be trained to do so. The local community college in Livonia, Michigan announced that a Piano Pedagogy class was going to be offered to perspective students who are interested in learning how to become a certified piano teacher and earn an associate degree by doing so. She was hooked!
Upon completion of the pedagogy curriculum at the community college and receiving an Associate Degree, Eileen continued her studies at Eastern Michigan University in Livonia, Michigan, by earning a Bachelor of Music Degree!
Eileen was FINALLY a classroom Music Teacher!
By that time in her life, her children had grown into young adulthood. It was a long winding road to the goalpost and happily the accomplishment was celebrated by all!
Always ready to try a new skill, Eileen took it upon herself to learn how to play a two-manual organ. She practiced at her home church in Plymouth, Michigan. After she felt confident and skilled enough, she played for her local church’s worship services. Eileen worked diligently enough to venture to even play a few pedals to accompany the congregation in singing the hymns and the liturgy.
After a while, she was asked to play for weddings at her home congregation. It was then that she spread her wings to play at nearby churches. She played not only for weddings, but as a substitute congregational organist when the need was made known to her. One year, on a trip to Mountain Home, Arkansas with their children in tow, Eileen was fascinated by the local history of the Dulcimer. One was purchased along with a how-to book on playing the dulcimer. Eileen devoured the book as she found that she could play and sing some “old-timey” tunes!
During her “free time”, Eileen volunteered to present a free music assembly program at local Michigan elementary schools. She gathered her guitars, dulcimer and other folk instruments to happily introduce fun “sing-along” songs as well as a lesson or two about U.S. folk music history.
Another year, Eileen and Lance decided to spend two weeks in Arkansas…just the two of them(!). Along the journey, they were encouraged to visit Hot Springs Village to consider living there when they were ready to retire. It still amazes both Lance and Eileen that this IS where they landed and have been enjoying “The Good Life” ever since.
Fast forward to Eileen’s retirement years in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas in 2002.
Upon moving to Hot Springs Village, Eileen found herself the sole organist for her new home church for 16 years. She played every Saturday evening as well as Sunday morning worship services. However, due to a health issue, she chose to retire as the congregation’s worship musician. She now continues to offer her musical skills by singing in the choir and substituting as the worship musician when needed.
After Eileen and Lance became comfortable in their new lifestyle, a new Village family friend, Harvey McIntyre, learned about Eileen and her music teaching career. Harvey encouraged her to try out to become a part of the percussion section of the Hot Springs Concert Band. She had never played in a band! She was a solo pianist! She had never played as part of any kind of ensemble before!
Eileen now often recalls how much she has learned that being part of a musical ensemble enriches the lives of not only the audience, but also the performers.
That was 25 years ago as of this writing!
Eileen looks forward to each rehearsal as she seemingly learns more about herself, her dreams and her goals…and she looks forward to seeing YOU at the concert!
By Eileen Miller