'Miss Annie G. Davidson was the sister of George, who owned Davidson's Confectionary. She lived on 4th Ave. West, the 2nd house past the alley, behind Wright's Garage. Annie G. taught music and singing to the kids of the area, along with Mrs. McKenzie. Many of her students went on to win awards and recognition, and all of them went on to enjoy music the rest of their lives, in one way or another.

Miss Davidson was a full time music teacher. I wonder now what age she was in the 1950's when I took piano lessons, as she always seemed to be old to me. I remember her as always having grey, curly hair, and sometimes a hair net on her head. She walked with a bit of a stoop, and always wore a dress, and a necklace....no respectable music teacher would wear anything but a dress, in those days!

She had 2 pianos in her living room, her prized baby grand, and a regular upright. The students were privileged to play on the baby grand, and when she was trying to get something through our heads...the notes, rhythm, etc....she would play on the upright to show us how it should be done. And when we were learning a duet, she played the second part, on the upright, along with us on the baby grand.

Postcard courtesy of Dianna McCarty A Christmas card Miss Davidson sent to her students each year with a photograph of her grand piano.

Each year, all the students received a Christmas post card from Miss Davidson, with a picture of her baby grand on it.

We lived 20 miles west of Biggar, and my mom drove me in once a week, every week, year round. I had to leave school in Springwater early on those days, to get in, as a trip to Biggar in those days was a major jaunt.

I always enjoyed the piano and my lessons, and didn't even mind the practicing. But I hated the recitals and festivals, with a vengeance! I still don't understand kids having to be put through that torture. Just let them enjoy
the music, the competition isn't necessary! One memory I have of a festival, was staying in a hotel in Unity. That was a pretty big deal then, one didn't stay in hotels just on a whim, like perhaps we do now. The thing that is so clear in my mind, was the porcelain water jug and basin beside our bed. Those would be antiques now but I guess then, that's what they had in the hotels. Having our own well on the farm, and a pump in the house to bring the water in, this must have been exciting to me, as I can still see it in my memory.

I still have the Royal Conservatory music books from those years, and the certificates we got as we passed each level. I even came across an old Biggar Festival program, from when I was about 11 years old, where my mom had pencilled in the marks that everyone got, in the classes I was in. At a "school friends' get together" a couple of years back, it was fun showing it to everyone, several of whom had been in the festival with me, and we got to see our marks!

Miss Davidson had no patience for anyone that played by ear, and by the time I was about 12 years old, that's what I was doing. So, when I was finished the grade 6 Royal Conservatory that year, she told my mom that she was wasting her money if that's what I wanted to do, play by ear! Thus, the end of my formal training. I don't remember being really sad about it, and to this day, I still enjoy sitting down by myself and plunking away....and I wonder if Annie G. is listening!

- Dianna