Spring 1975 Jeanne 5 1/2 Karen 3 1/2
The Beginning of it all

Mom on guitar, girls singing along
Tingalayo & Ain't it a Shame

Jeanne (before beginning lessons)
(because Mom "showed her where the notes are")
O Come All Ye Faithful
Home on the Range (Duet with Mom)

From Yamaha Music class piano with Mrs Chu
Major-Minor Song - changing keys on sight

Jeannie began piano lessons with Mrs Lucy Chu
in a class of 4 students in Sept 1975
One of the students was Mimi Lee

After 1 year of class piano, Mrs Chu decided to
teach Jeannie and Mimi together at duo pianos in her studio
since they were so evenly matched

We had NO idea what was coming!

January 1977

After 5 months, Mrs Chu entered them in their 1st competition
Their history of their practices & performances together
are on this separate page

Jeannie practicing her program
with sibling noise in the background

The Program
Minuet in G (Bach)
Sonatina in G Mvt 2 (Beethoven)
The Merry Farmer
2 required "Studies"
The Sound of Music (Duet with Mom)
(Mom is the alternative to playing with the judge)

Required Scales, arpeggios etc
Duet Again

March 1977
Competition practice continues

Practice for "1st Recital" Jeanne (age 6)

May 1976
I didn't realize that we needed Mrs Chu's permission
to play in Pat White's Recital AND
to play her favorite songs
not what was part of her lesson - oops!

WHO WHAT IS THIS??
This Land is Your Land
When You Wish Upon a Star
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Anchors Aweigh
Grand Old Flag - Jeanne singing along
This Land is Your Land

Tape 3B - Practice Continued plus just having fun

2 Pieces
This Land is Your Land
Jeanne Introducing
When You Wish Upon a Star
Singing (Jeanne & Karen (age 3)
I Am Mr Middle C
Jesus Loves the Little Children
Anchors Aweigh
(Funny directions from "Coach Mom")
When You Wish Upon a Star
Over the Rainbow (Jeanne singing, MOM piano!)
Jesus Loves the Little Children (+ life in our house)

Tape 3C - Doing What Mrs. Chu Directed
Scales etc - Jeanne
Major & Minor ("sounds like Franenstein")

Life in Our Living Room - August 1976

Daisy Daisy Duet - Jeanne & Mom with Karen (almost 4) singing

Daisy Daisy - one more time - all singing

The Rest of the tape is Jeannie practicing
with her own commentary and the background of siblings and Mom
Here are a few examples
" Mommy I'm Ready"
" I can do the Entertainer"
Some Piece "Only had it one week"
Gibraltar Rock
The Entertainer again and right into another piece

Beetle Blues - twice

Practicing in real life - August 1976
Jeanne: " Karen! The tape recorder has to have me on it not you"
Karen: "Now it has me on it not you - ha ha"

" Here comes the one I always wanted"
Another Scott Joplin

"Opening Night" ("It's only the 2nd day")
where Mom told Jeanne to play the wrong rhythm
That's when Mrs Chu learned how clueless I was

Scales etc
Jeanne reading the notes Mom wrote at the lesson
Scales including "5 finger tuneup contrary minor"

"America 76 - The WHOLE BOOK"

A historical note:
After Jeannie played for the judge in the AMSA preliminary competition in March 77, he came out to ask me
if I knew that she had "perfect pitch" and could take "4 part dictation"
Not only did I not KNOW that, I had no idea what he was talking about

Jeanne won 1st place in the AMSA finals (level 3)
in Cincinnati and in the Junior Division (under 14) of
the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Competition
The Upper Arlington News did a story about her

September 1977 (Jeanne turned 8 on the 22nd)
This recording was made for Papa Frank and Grandma

Part 1
Clair de Lune Debussy
Theme from Madame Butterfly Puccini
Sonatina in F Beethoven
Sonatina Opus 36#1 Clementi
Journey in the Night Gillock
Cappricieto Gillock
Theme from Beethoven's Fifth
Part 2
The Entertainer (Joplin)
The Sound of Music (Duet) Jeanne & Mom
Polonaise in g minor Bach
Spanish Roses Gillock
Piece in Classic Styoe Gillock
Old Planation Gillock
Turkey in the Straw (Duet)
Minuet in G (Duet) Beethoven Jeanne & Mom
Musette in D Bach
Minuet in B Flat Haydn
Hunting Song Schumann
Boogie for 2 (Duet) Jeanne & Mom
Waltzes Strasuss Jeanne & Mom
Minuet in d Minor Bach

December 1977

Jeanne - Practice for next competition
Baroque & Classical Periods
Prelude #2 (Bach)
Sonatina in F Mvt #2 (Beethoven)
Sonatina in F Mvt #2 (Beethoven)

20th Century pieces
Rumba (Weybright)
A Cosy Waltz (Kabalevski)

February 1978

Practice AMSA
Rumba (Weybright) twice
Prelude (Bach) 3 times
Rumba (Weybright) again

February 1978

More AMSA Practice
Sonatina in F 2nd mvt (Beethoven)
Prelude (Bach)
Rumba (Weybright) twice
Sonatina in F 2nd mvt (Beethoven)

February 1978

Early Sonatina Practice (Dussek) - Jeanne
8x Practice LMCS (Like Mrs Chu Said)
Clueless Mom trying to help

AMSA Practice for Preliminaries - February 1978
Sonatina in F 2nd mvt (Beethoven)
Prelude (Bach)
Rumba (Weybright)

Practice LMCS Plus Waltz (with MOM??)
Mom trying Bach

March 1978

Mimi came to our house often to practice
their performance solos & duets
All those recordings are on the "Duo" Page

Jeanne continued practicing alone
Funny with Mom - didn't realize tape was on
Prelude #2 (Bach) Jeanne
Sonatina in F Mvt 2 (Beethoven) Jeanne
Duet
Waltzes (Strauss) Jeanne with Mom trying hard

March 28, 1978 - AMSA Program Practice
Prelude #2 (Bach)
Sonatina in F (Beethoven)
Rumba (Weybright)

March 1978
AMSA program
March Practice - One Two

 

February-March 1978 (tape 8)

Sonatina mvts 1 & 2 (Dussek) very good
More Dussek - twice and again

LOTS of Bach practice
Bach with metronome

New Piece - Working it out
slow and counting carefully

Mom - "going to Thomas'
Careful practice
" Oh, Mommy hear how carefully I practiced!"
Bach after all that careful practice
Bach again
Jeanne-"Mommy, this is hard"
Mom -"I know"

February-March 1978 (tape 8)

Some new piece??
Good example with metronome
Working hard
Scales, technique studies or some piece in short sections

Tape 8C has more of the same
Sounds like "Studies" one after another
MOM!!!
Mom Returns, checks lesson notes
" This is the speed on the metronome"
" a lot faster"
(I assume I've been cooking and supper isn't ready yet)
Jeanne-"I'm so hungry"
Mom-"Me too, What would you like me to do?
feed you raw meat? I don't think so"

March 1978 (Karen - Age 5 & Jeanne - Age 8)
By 1978 we had a 2nd pianist in the house
Karen has her own page

Sonatina Opus 55 #3 Mvt #1 (Kuhlau) - Jeanne
Sonatina Opus 20 #1 Mvts 1&2 (Dussek) - Jeanne
Sonatina Opus 55 #3 Mvts 1&2 (Kuhlau) - Jeanne
Prelude # 5 (Bach) - Jeanne

America 76 Duet - Karen & Mom

Sonatina Opus 20 #1 Mvts 1&2 (Dussek) - Jeanne
Prelude # 5 (Bach) - Jeanne

April 1978

Mrs Chu lesson (taped over)
Mrs Chu lesson again?

Practice - including Czerny - Jeanne
" house sounds"
Practice - including Czerny again? - Jeanne
" Karen, please go downstairs & see if Bobby's
teddy bears are down there"

May Practice
With metronome & "Coach" Mom

Bach-Beethoven - At Last?

Pat White Recital "Mothers' Day" - May 1978

Pat White was a piano teacher in Columbus
We became friends since her husband John worked
with Joe at Battelle Columbus Laboratories
Although she never taught Jeanne or Karen, she supported
both girls and the training they were receiving from Mrs Chu

Sonatina Opus 20 #1 Mvts 1&2 (Dussek) - Jeanne
America 76 Duet - Karen & Mom

Practice for AMSA Semi Finals
Prelude # 2 ( Bach) - Jeanne
Sonatina in F Mvt 2 (Beethoven) - Jeanne

 

June 1978 Jeanne (Age 8)

AMSA Practice

Prelude #2 Bach Jeanne
Sonatina in F Mvt 2 Beethoven Jeanne
Sonatina in F Mvt 2 Beethoven Jeanne
Sonatina Opus 36 # 6 Mvt 1 Clementi Jeanne
Sonatina Opus 36 # 6 Mvt 2 Clementi Jeanne

More Practice Pieces

Sonatina Opus 36 # 4 Mvt 1 Clementi Jeanne
Sonatina Opus 36 # 4 Mvt 2 Clementi Jeanne
Sonatina Opus 36 # 4 Mvt 3 Clementi Jeanne
Prelude #3 in c minor (12 Short Preludes) Bach Jeanne
Prelude # 1 (6 Short Preludes) Bach Jeanne
Study # 63 Czerny Jeanne

Even More Practice Pieces
Solfeggietto C.P.E.(Bach)
Sonata I in C (Mozart)
and
Fur Elise (Beethoven)

October 1978

Sonata in C mvts 1 & 2 (Mozart) - Jeanne (Age 9)
Sonatina in C 1st Mvt (Mozart)
Sonatina in C 1st Mvt again (Mozart)

Other Practice
Prelude #5 (Bach) Jeanne

Practice for CSO Minuet Unit - October 1978

Sonata in C Mvt 1 (Mozart) Jeanne
Minuet in G (Bach) Karen
Sonata in C Mvt 2 (Mozart) Jeanne
The Entertainer (Joplin) Karen
Duets from Sound of Music Jeanne & Karen
Do Re Mi (Bobby singing along) - tape cuts off
Theme from Sound of Music (

 

Minuet Symphony Unit - November 1978
Karen's FIRST performance (age 6) Jeanne (age 9)

Sonata in C Mvt 1 (Mozart) Jeanne
Minuet in G (Bach) Karen
Sonata in C Mvt 2 Mozart Jeanne
** The Entertainer (Joplin) Karen
Do Re Mi (Duet) Jeanne & Karen
The Sound of Music (Duet) Jeanne & Karen

(In Retrospect, bringing the music along
would have been a good idea)

Duets (Jeanne and Karen)
Waltz (Arensky)
Allegro Moderato (Schubert)
Waltz #1 (Brahms)

Practice (Bobby age 3 in background)
Rondo opus 51 #1 (Beethoven) Jeanne
Sonatina In G Mvt 1 (Beethoven) Karen
Minuet in G (a different one) (Bach) Karen
Sonatina in G - Mvt 1 & 2 (Beethoven) Karen
Turkey in the Straw Duet Karen & ?
Rag Time Dance (Joplin) Karen

December 1978 - Practice Duets

Rondo from Sonata in F (Dussek)
Allegro Molto from Sonata in D (Beethoven)
Sonatina in C (Andre)
Sonatina in C (Weber)
Repeating the Program
Rondo from Sonata in F (Dussek)
Allegro Molto from Sonata in D (Beethoven)
Sonatina in C (Andre)
Sonatina in C (Weber)

The Russians Are Coming
The Russians are Coming twice
Peasant Dance (Gurlitt) twice

December 1978 - Practice

Invention #1 (Bach) - Jeanne
Prelude #12 (Bach) - Jeanne

Rondo opus 51 #1 (Beethoven) - Jeanne
Rondo opus 51 #1 again (Beethoven) - Jeanne

Sonatina Opus 20 #3 complete (Kuhlau) - Jeanne

Karen (piano) Jeanne (Bass) Mom (Guitar)
This Land is Your Land - take 1
This Land is Your Land - take 2

 

January 1979 - Jeanne (age 9)

Practice
Invention #4 (Bach)
Puck (Grieg)

More Practice
Invention #8 (Bach)
Sonatina Opus 20 #2 mvts 1,2,3 (Kuhlau)

2 More to Practice
Prelude #4 from 12 short preludes (Bach) Jeanne
Jogging Along the Trail (Recital Tidbits, Book 5) Glover

 

 

 

April 1979
Upper Arlington began strings instruction in 4th Grade
Jeanne chose to play the string bass
Good thing we had a van to transport it

Karen (piano) Jeanne (Bass)
Dance of the Reed Flutes (Tchaikovsky)
Cool Caboose

Pat White Recital (April 29,1979)
Announcer: John White
Cool Caboose Karen
Sonatina Opus 49 #2 Mvt 1 (Beethoven) Jeanne

May 3, 1979 Orchestra Concert
Upper Arlington Schools 90 minute Music Program

Each School played selections
One example here

Variations on Minuet in G
Violin - Sotoko Yamamoto (Grade ?)
Piano - Jeanne Backofen (Grade 5)

Combined Finale
God of Our Fathers

July 20 1979
10th Anniversary of the Moon Landing

JHS Summer Strings Workshop at OSU
Advanced elementary school students were
allowed to participate

Jeanne - a rising 5th grade student at Fishinger Elementary
played bass

Last 3 pieces of this 90 minute program

Jeanne's 1st "bass" was actually a cello strung as a bass

In 5th grade she was given a real bass

Summer 1979 Practice - Jeanne

Sonatina Opus 36 #5 All 3 mvts (Clementi)

2 Pieces
Prelude #4 (6 Short Preludes) (Bach) TWICE
Reflection (Nevin)

Summer 1979 Practice - Jeanne

The progression of this favorite piece by Debussy
Arabesque I (in progress) (Debussy)
Arabesque #1
Arabesque I (One Week Later)

Summer 1979
Jeanne 3 pieces - age 9
Sonatina op 36 #5 1st Mvt (Clementi)
Arabesque I (Debussy)
Concerto 3 Mvts (Williams)

Summer 1979 - Was an important milestone
Mrs Chu introduced Jeanne to Concertos with this "Student" Concerto
Concerto in A Minor 3 mvts (Williams) Jeanne unaccompanied

From this modest start through 2019 her Complete Concerto History is on a separate page

Pat White Recital - November 18, 1979

Karen & Jeanne were guest performers
Sonatina Opus 36 #1 Mvt 1 (Clementi) Karen
Arabesque I (Debussy) Jeanne

December 1979 Practice - Jeanne

Rondo #1 (Mozart)
Prelude #2 (6 Little Preludes) (Bach)
Pastorale (Lubin)

I well remember this day because Jeanne had to
stop playing because 4 year old Bobby insisted that
it was time for him to sing Christmas Carols
8 minutes of Bobby singing is on his page

December 1979 Practice - continued

Consolation Opus 30 #3 (Mendelsson)
Venetian Boat Song #2 Opus 30 #6 (Mendelsson)
Rhapsody (Eckstien)
AMSA Practice (with Jeannie's comments)
3 pieces
Prelude #4 (Bach)
Sonata Opus 49 #1 (Beethoven)
Goblins (Currie)
4 pieces
Prelude #4 (Bach)
Sonata Opus 49 #1 (Beethoven)
Goblins (Currie)
Puck (Grieg)

Fall 1979 - Pianorama at OSU

Jeanne & Mimi (age 10) were in Level 6 (with the HS kids)
One exchange with the conductor
Him (directed to Jeannie) "I said EVERYBODY stand up!"
Jeannie - " I AM standing"
Program included "Theme from the Apartment"
Then the Finale: "The Sound of Music"

 

1979 - 1980 - "Backofen Band"

Funny Intro - "the musicians"
(Papa Frank, Grandma, Mom & Kids)

This Land is Your Land
America

Duet - Mom & Jeanne
How Can I Keep from Singing