Marla Ballard Columnist

In the third century BC, Greek engineer, Ctesibius of Alexandria is credited with inventing the organ. The wind was regulated by water, the appearance of a bellow-fed organ was not recorded until 400 years later.

Around the turn of the fifteenth century a plucked string instrument known as a guitar was invented. The first guitars came from Spain and had four double-strings. Each pair of strings were tuned to the same note. It was not until the end of the fifteenth century that the guitar gained popularity.

The earliest known six-string guitar is believed to have been built in 1779 in Italy.

Circa 1700 saw the invention of the piano when Bartolomeo Cristofori, of Italy, was unsatisfied by the lack of control musicians had over the volume level of the harpsichord. He is credited for switching out the plucking mechanism with a hammer to create the modern piano. The piano was originally named "clavicembalao col piano e forte" which literally means a harpsichord that can play soft and loud noises.

 The banjo was a product of enslaved Africans and their descendants in the Caribbean and colonial North America. Joel Sweeney of Virginia was instrumental in popularizing and developing the five-string banjo in the 1800s. What these instruments have in common is that they are just four of the instruments that music teacher, Sherryl Lewis teaches her students how to play. 

Lewis has been teaching music for nearly 20 years and teaches both children and adults. Her mother played piano and Lewis has been playing piano since she was in the second grade.

"I believe learning a musical instrument is good for the memory, hand-eye coordination, improves math skills, teaches discipline and patience, and boosts self-esteem," said Lewis. "It is hard to go wrong by taking piano lessons, the basic skills learned on the piano are easily transferred to other instruments."

 Lewis teaches her school-aged students at Valley Head High School and Ider High School in both group and individual settings. Adults who take lessons are currently tutored at the M.E.R.F. house in Mentone on Highway 117 and in Lewis' home; on the Henagar-Ider line.

Those who desire to learn to play the piano are not required to have an upright piano to begin lessons. "Many of my students begin by using a keyboard at their home to practice on," said Lewis. "Generally, once a student takes lessons for a while they know if it is something they want to continue. Many purchase an upright, if they have the space, once they make that decision."

 Parents are required to pay for the extra-curricular class for their school-aged children even though the lessons are provided on the campus' of the schools during school hours. A school sanctioned arrangement is in place where once each week the child is excused from physical education to take their music lesson.  

School-aged children participate in a recital held at the end of each school year. The recital takes place off school premises at a local church.

"I currently am teaching 41 students, but I do this full-time and still have some openings for additional students," said Lewis. "You are never too old to learn to play a musical instrument." For more information about prices and lessons contact Sherryl Lewis at 256-657-1616.