Never Too Old

Who starts a new career at age 70? I did, and this is the story of how it all began. 

I first met Gina Weibel when we were both attending local Cub Scout leadership training meetings, as representatives of our church units. Gina was from Third Ward, and I from Fourth Ward, but it was a natural thing for the LDS Scout leaders to get together at these training meetings. 

It was Facebook that took our relationship to another level. I had created a Facebook Group exclusively for the members of our Ward. When Gina asked to join the group, at first I ignored her request. But she persisted, and eventually I made an exception, and let her in.  

It was early in 2012 that Gina made a Facebook post that set my new career in motion. She was looking for someone to “help  out” in her music studio, someone who could play the piano, and enjoyed being with little children. I had time on my hands, fit the description, and let her know I was available. 

I began sitting in on Gina’s Let’s Play Music classes to discover what would be required of a studio assistant. At that time the LPM Corporate leaders were experimenting with the idea of having studio assistants, who would work for a fully accredited teacher. But when they decided that these assistants would need to be fully trained, I began to rethink my plans. The training was very expensive, and required a trip to Utah. Then one day I overheard some of the parents talking about the need for a piano teacher to work with the graduating children, and I thought perhaps that would be a better way for me to get involved.  I continued to sit in on Gina’s classes and consider my options.  

But Gina did get tired of waiting for me to make up my mind, and one day I came to the music class and met another observer. Jennifer said she was there to interview for the Assistant position! Suddenly I felt robbed: it became very clear that this was MY position after all. My decision was firm, so Gina ended up hiring both of us! Jennifer and I attended training in Utah in May of 2012, and we both taught in Gina’s studio that year. In 2013 the assistant program was terminated, I went back to Utah for more training, and opened my own studio, with 28 students. In 2014 Gina moved away, and my studio grew to 63. As I write this, I feel it was all meant to be.