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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
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Morning Star, December 27, 2024, pg. 7 Albion is full of music. In recent years we've seen the proliferation of musical concerts, groups, choirs, bands and ensembles fill our community at various events throughout the year, both indoors and out. The concerts at the Bohm Theatre, as well as at the Albion Malleable Brewing Company are just a couple of the venues where locals and visitors alike can hear rock bands or individuals play and sing. Of course, the Swingin' at the Shell concert series in Victory Park from July through early September has attracted hundreds of spectators each year. With that in mind, a year ago I saw some music students walking out of Dickerson's Music in Albion with brand new Casio electronic keyboards they received as part of the class they took there. Good for them! Albion has been the training ground for musicians for many years, and it is an encouragement to see a new generation carry on the musical traditions here in Albion. I began piano lessons in October, 1959 at the age of six. My piano teacher, Nema Phipps (1887-1970) operated her piano studio in her home along with Mrs. Darleen (Wellington) Miller (1885-1978) who specialized in voice. The ladies' house at 703 E. Cass St. was historically the Fiske house, named after Albion College president Lewis Ransom Fiske. After Mrs. Miller's death the home was eventually returned to the College. Somehow my Sunday School teacher at church found out that I was taking piano lessons, and I was coaxed to play something for the children's Christmas program in December. This relieved me of having to memorize poetry like the other children had to do. The piece was "Away in a Manger." It was mostly one-fingered but with a couple of "both hands" spots. At the end of the program, the teacher asked if I would like to play in "Junior church," held during the time the adults had their "big church." I agreed, and thus began my long career as a church musician which by the grace of God continues to this day many years later. It has been an interesting run, indeed. "Miss Phipps" as we addressed her, had her pupils use the "John Thompson's Modern Course for the Piano" series. Mr. Thompson (1889-1963) was an accomplished national concert pianist, composer, and educator. You could tell where you were in the series by the red covers: One had a circle, another an oval, the next a diamond, a triangle, etc. as you progressed along. The text on the bottom of the inside cover stated: "Pianism and Musicianship march on a pace in this book and the student becomes increasingly familiar with the works from the Masters." Anyway, I ended up taking lessons all the way up through high school, and purchasing these music books, and others, at Dickerson's Music along the way. I really liked the way Gar Dickerson had anything you wanted in any key, no matter how old and yellowed the sheet music might be. He had it. His store was like a museum of music. In the days before the internet and easy key-transposing online, it was the place to go for musicians. I mean, where else could you find "The Holy City" written in A-flat? We are fortunate to have a music store like Dickerson's still here in Albion today. For those of you who received a musical instrument for Christmas a few days ago, let me say that you have received a valuable gift. It will take you places, and those around you, too. Learn all you can while you are young and master your instrument, so that when you get older you will be able continue to bless people who hear you play. It can be the gift of a lifetime. There is an 8-digit secret password (write this down) you'll need to learn in order to be successful. That password is: P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E. From our Historical Notebook this week we present the cover of the "Fifth Grade Book" in the John Thompson Series that I purchased at Dickerson's in the early 1960s. Do you practice pianism? How many of our readers remember the John Thompson piano series books? If Albion were to ever come up with a new slogan, it just might be, "Albion, the Music Capital of Michigan." Happy New Year, everyone.  The "Fifth Grade Book" in the John Thompson Series
All text copyright, 2026 © all rights reserved Frank Passic | Artwork copyright Maggie LaNoue © 2026
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