When it comes to music, variety is the seasoning of life. If all musicians played the same instrument a band would be tedious. Can you imagine what a band of all drums, all pianos or all accordions would sound like? Even if you paid people to listen they might stuff cotton in their ears when no one was looking.

As I was growing up I fell in love with the piano. My aunt and one uncle were pianists and so that was the only instrument that interested me. I always participated in school choirs and often accompanied choirs and duets or trios on the piano.

When I was in Junior High Mr. Pringle was our music teacher. After school I frequently went into his room and talked to him. He always seemed to be interested in what I had to say. One day he asked me if I had ever considered playing any other instrument. I told him no and he said I could probably play a wind instrument. I was surprised, as I had never had a desire to play anything but the piano.

"Why do you think that?" I asked.

"Because you're so windy," he said. I knew it was a joke but I didn't think it was very funny. I didn't go in and talk to him for a couple of days. Only after I got older and admitted that there are times when I talk a lot could I laugh over that joke.

When I was young I bought my own piano with baby sitting money. After I was married I wanted my piano but in order to be sure that it wasn't damaged we hired a mover to transfer it from my parents' house into our home. Those experts broke the sounding board. It was worthless and had to be sold for junk. I grieved over my beloved piano. It took quite a few years for me to replace it.

When my daughter and I moved into a smaller mobile home my piano went into storage. That's when I discovered keyboards, they are different from a piano but a wonderful invention.

The love of music was passed down to my girls and they wanted to play an instrument too but their search was frustrating at times. We tried giving them piano lessons; they wouldn't practice so we gave up on that. Lorraine liked the accordion and practiced as long as she had the small one loaned to us by the school. When we decided that she would stick with it and bought a big one she promptly lost interest in it. Linda played it for awhile but soon it was unused and covered with dust.

Lorraine's search for her chosen instrument was far reaching. She played the guitar and took lessons for awhile. Remembering her piano lessons she plunked on the piano a bit, then took lessons on the organ and played the organ for awhile. A few years ago she started playing the bass. "I've found my instrument," she declared and has stuck with that ever since.

Linda married a talented musician who plays the piano by ear and the guitar. He taught her to play the bass and she likes that. My grandson Larry chose the drums and they soon had a family band.

I loved their music so I bought a set of drums for my other grandson, Bill. He took to them like a bird takes to the air, but one of our neighbors was not enthusiastic over them. Even though we made him stop practicing at 9:00 p.m. Bill overheard him telling another man, "The neighbors are pretty good, except for that *!@!#$% kid who plays the drums." I guess there are always musical critics.

Lorraine, Bill and I have been playing as a family in church bands now for the past six years and it is a great source of worship for us. My great grandson Ronnie is three years old now and sometimes he goes to band practice with us on Saturday mornings. I have a tambourine and he calls it his "dancing thing." He practices with us at times. After practice we have a group prayer where we stand in a circle and hold hands. Ronnie and two other little boys who come to practice run up to the stage and pray with us. Each person in the worship team prays a short prayer.

A couple of months ago I bought a new keyboard. Ronnie likes to play with my keyboard and because he pushes buttons he discovered the Demo button that plays automatic songs. It makes such good music I started studying my instructions so I could sound as good as Ronnie. I'm getting better. Although he denies it when I call him skinny Ronnie is built like a little toothpick so his pants are a bit loose. He stands on a stool and plays the Demo song while swinging his hips.

Last week Ronnie came home with us after church and spent the afternoon playing the keyboard. Since he is used to playing in a band he made his Nana Lorraine help him play the keyboard. Suddenly he stopped. "Let's pay," he said. Nana Lorraine thought he meant "Let's play," but he insisted "Let's pay." Then he pointed to his eye.

"Is there something wrong with your eye?" Nana Lorraine asked.

"No," Ronnie replied, "let's pay" and he turned off the keyboard and shut his eyes. "My turn," he said and faster than a whirlwind he said, "Bless Mommy, Daddy, Beebee."

They played for a couple of minutes and once again he said "Let's pay," then said "Your turn." He turned the keyboard off while Nana Lorraine prayed. Then the two-person band went on with the demo song. Every two minutes Ronnie stopped and said, "Let's pay."

When it comes to music, variety is the seasoning of life. We don't know what musical instrument Ronnie will choose but we are sure that prayer makes music better.