Call Me Mozart

The Jerusalem Center is notorious for a lot of things including the 3,165 piped organ. It is one of the biggest organs in the Middle East. Lucky for me and the other JC students, we get the privilege to have the Squirres here with us. They are both gifted musically, and make excellent teachers.  Brother Squirres was so nice to teach us how to play the organ. Although one might think it would be similar to the piano, it is very different.  You have to hold the keys longer, and overlap the notes so it doesn't sound staccato.

YMCA

The fun does not stop with the organ however.  I also was able to go the the YMCA Carillon tower.  This is a tower in West Jerusalem that has 35 bells that play for over 300,00 people who are in/around the city. I was able to go to these towers and play for Jerusalem.     

I know what you are thinking...how LUCKY West Jerusalem must have been to hear John,my lovely bell partner who has in fact never played the piano before, and myself who quit piano years ago play. I tried to upload the video of us playing, but unfortunately it is not loading at this time. But we actually did relatively well!  It was invigorating to know that thousands of people could hear you play.  As soon as we finished John exclaimed " my first concert ever was for 300,000 people!"  We both felt accomplished. After we got to ring the bells 12 times because it was 12 o'clock.  I was the first ding...Overall mom you should be proud!