March 16.1993

Dear Miss McClintock:

I am so grateful that your Piano Course was introduced to me and has become a major part of my life experience.

Having been told by several medical doctors that I have developed in my legs and feet a condition that they consider untreatable, I am now confined to a wheelchair. This verdict put me in a desperate frame of mind, and it was very difficult to live with the thought of such hopelessness.

When I retired over a year ago, I had hoped to be able to fulfill a great desire I had always had of being able to play the piano well. In my present condition this seemed impossible to pursue, and I almost bitterly tried to get rid of my piano and turned from even listening to all music, which I loved. Unbelievably, the opportunity of working with your Piano Course walked in my door. At once, I rejected the idea as I felt that I was unable to undertake and accomplish such a project in this manner.

The minute I received the Course, I started reading the manual and my consciousness was quite transformed. Sitting at a table I worked with the initial exercises. My cupped hands began to feel music in them; my thoughts became absorbed in the lessons I was learning, and I would go to bed with music, simple as it was, in my thoughts rather than visions of doubt, fear and hopelessness.

When I started working at the piano, I put to use the simple technique for playing the keys. Immediately, my left arm, wrist and fingers, which were quite numb and weak, began to respond.

I reluctantly close my Lesson Book at the end of each day, but joyfully realize that I have a reason to get out of bed each morning.

I do not have contact with many people in person, but family and friends who talk to me on the telephone comment that I sound so much better, and I notice they are not asking me all sorts of questions about my condition any more, but talk to me as they would talk to any “normal” person.

After a specific principle is brought forth in a lesson, each example you have written to show how it is used musically is a joy to play and hear. It makes one feel the potential of mastering just about anything that is presented and at a proper pace that gives great hope of achieving.

I feel a wonderful guiding presence while I am working with these lessons, and I cannot wait each day to get to work. Formerly, I was very lonely and full of self pity that I should have to be alone in this state of dependence with only four walls to look at, but now I do not feel alone and almost resent the time I spend with someone, who out of kindness, visits me, in mare idle talk. I want to spend my time in going forward in my understanding of music.

I am grateful that I can wheel up to the piano and play from my wheelchair, but I do find it difficult and even painful because the arms of the wheelchair somewhat restrain the action of my arms. However, I fully intend to be able to free myself from this wheelchair, learn to really play the piano and return to the mainstream of living.

This Course is alive and filled with the love you have put into it all these years. How can I thank you!

Sincerely,
Jean Silva
(typed from hand-written copy)