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Cruisin' Along: The Joy of Music |
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“Somewhere, beyond the sea, waiting for me”….So hums Barbara Gaul, BVM (Charles Mary) as she prepares to set sail on another cruise. What a great ministry she has found. The opportunity for these travels came about while Barbara was volunteering weekly, playing the piano for community singing at a senior residence where her mother lived. Barbara became acquainted with the daughter of another resident. This woman has a unique position with Yamaha Music Corp. She assigns music teachers to give group keyboard lessons to passengers on Crystal Cruises. Would Barbara be interested in doing this? Barbara's reaction was one of surprise and delight together with anticipation. She began preparing for this new adventure at the Yamaha Corporation in the summer of 2004 by familiarizing herself with the Clavinova, the digital piano she would use to teach the lessons using the16-20 keyboards on each ship. She also learned the program of instruction specifically designed for cruise instruction. Her first adventure was the New England Fall Foliage Cruise. Barbara not only teaches music but also serves as a tour escort. The highlights of Quebec City delighted the passengers with its old world enchantment and history. The next destination was Halifax, Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, the ship never reached the city. An unexpected storm forced a detour. At the dinner table, Barbara was seated with a retired Navy sea captain. He tried to allay the passengers' fears as the ship traveled along on 20-25 foot high waves! Barbara had the novel experience of hanging on to a pillar while trying to teach the music class! One of the highlights of the cruise through the Panama Canal was becoming friends with an Irish concert pianist who was performing on the ship. When the ship reached Acapulco, Mexico, Barbara's group of three headed out on their own walking tour of the city. They were approached by a woman tour guide who convinced them to let her take them on a tour. A special treat was a visit to the guide's parents' home. A delightful afternoon was spent visiting their humble home and self-sustaining garden of coffee, vegetables, and fruit. Barbara's years of ministry with the Latino community in Los Angeles stood her in good stead; she was able to communicate with the family in Spanish, much to the delight of all. Besides the sights, Barbara treasures the opportunities to meet new people, renew old friendships and experience different cultures. Since the Mediterranean cruise began in the British Isles, she was able to go a few days early to visit close friends from Los Angeles who had moved back to Ireland. On this same cruise she met a charming retired couple who live not far from her in Leisure World. She recalls that “they were avid students who came early, helped each other and stayed late.” “Teaching is a joy for me,” says Barbara, who holds a masters in music and spent years teaching music education. “It is a rewarding experience to look out and see the effort and delight of these students with their musical achievement in such a short time.”
Teaching these classes gives Barbara the opportunity to enrich the passengers' cruise experience and enables them to take home a greater appreciation of music. Who knows? Maybe many of the students will continue their adventure with the keyboard. Little did her mother or she realize where it would lead when Barbara started her first piano lessons at age seven! About the author: Pat Rogers, BVM (Albertine) is vice-principal of St. Thomas More Elementary School, San Francisco, Calif., and a member of the Communications Advisory Committee. Return to Table of Contents. |
