By Saumiya Balasubramaniam & Kathy Rowe
“I love the people in Centennial and I especially love living by the water. We have the community centre with the library. We have everything here!”
Roberta McDowell, a longtime resident and a seasoned neighbourhood piano teacher truly appreciates this community. In turn, the many community members who have been taught piano by Roberta appreciate her.
When Roberta began teaching from her home 30 years ago, her boys were in elementary school. “I didn’t have to advertise to find students,” she said. “Having my kids in school really helped get the word out.” This is still true.
Roberta’s students range from 6 years to 88 years of age and she still marvels at how fast her students learn the keyboard. “It’s so quick with both kids and adults. My 88-year-old student Dorothy knew nothing and within two weeks I had her playing a song with both hands. I’m so proud of her!”
Dorothy said, “Playing the piano is something I have wanted to do since I was 5 years old. A friend told me that it’s never too late! I’m really enjoying it and I’m working on ‘Where Do I Begin,’ the theme from the movie Love Story. Roberta has the patience of Job!”
Sahit, who is Roberta’s 6-year-old student, said, “Piano is fun! I don’t like it when the teacher pauses my playing to point out a mistake, but I always see the mistake. For example, the next time I play the song, I don’t make that mistake. When I ask for a new song, she will always say yes, or make a note to teach me later.”
Roberta began playing piano at the age of 9. “My mother never needed to ask me to practice,” she recalled. “I loved it and I studied the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) grade levels all the way up until Grade 10.” Conservatory programs emphasize the learning of graded music skills such as: musicality, sight-reading, ear training, music theory, music history, harmony and performance.
This style of learning takes dedication and perseverance. “Not all students are suited to learn the Conservatory curriculum. They have to be willing to be dedicated and to practice every day,” she added. Roberta’s philosophy is to never push a child to play piano. She maintains that music should have a positive impact, not a negative one.
Roberta’s teaching style is gentle yet effective. She works with the rhythm and receptiveness of the recipient. She gauges the curiosity of the student and is always interested to know what songs they enjoy and would like to play on the piano. In the case of a young child, Roberta will ask if they know a nursery rhyme or lullaby that they would like to learn. As the students progress, Roberta is always ready with her stash of colourful stickers, sharpened pencils, and erasers.
Older students will ask if she can teach them to play a pop song like a song by Taylor Swift. Roberta’s response is: “Pop songs are so difficult to learn because they have tough rhythms. These songs are never written in basic 4/4 time. I usually suggest to my students that they can try learning that type of song in a year or so.”
Ask Roberta what her music passion is at the moment and she will say drums. “I took up the drums five years ago and I absolutely love playing them,” she said with enthusiasm. “I’m taking lessons, too!”
For those who enjoyed the band Better Side at the Port Union waterfront festival in the summer, the hands and heart behind the music was hidden at the back, obscured from the field of vision of most cameras. Apparently, she prefers to be unseen like that. Call it a quiet charm or a hidden treasure, it is a pleasure for Centennial to have Roberta’s musical presence in our midst.