Irene Bland died last week. She was my very, very first music teacher when I was in preschool. It wasn’t “learn to play an instrument” so much as “hey! music!” and I have fond memories of her. She was 86.
Thanks, Irene.
I whacked blocks together at the Legion hall in Laguna Beach.
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Be My Blog 
Sounds like she was one of the good ones.
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There is something magical about little old lady music teachers. I had a piano teacher when I was seven – I stopped six months later for who-knows-what. I kept playing and etc, etc, time flew by. I hadn’t seen or spoken to her in nearly 30 years when I saw her at my mom’s funeral. She came up to me and asked if I remembered her. I said “of course! You’re Mrs. Willeman, you were my piano teacher.” She asked if I still played so I told her about everything I played and what I was doing (back in ’93)and she started sobbing loudly, “No one else has kept playing! Thank you!” and I said, “No, thank YOU” and we hugged and cried. It was very moving.
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We should all keep playing and I don’t know why we don’t.
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teevee
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Yeah…
Yeah, tv scratches the itch, doesn’t it? I feel the same way, we never have the need build enough that we take steps, like painting, or playing music.
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she looks like a nice, jolly old lady.
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I would LOVE to be a kids music teacher. If only I could remember how to read music… haha.
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Irene Bland Memorial
Thanks for writing this about my mom, Irene Bland. Our family would like to invite you to the memorial we are holding for her. It is this coming Sunday, August 20th, from 3:00 to 4:30 pm, at the Laguna Beach United Methodist Church, 21632 Wesley Dr., Laguna Beach.
The church is located behind Lang Park and the old Aliso Elementary school, across PCH from the Montage Resort.
Sincerely,
Holly Derheim (Irene’s daughter)
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Re: Irene Bland Memorial
Holly – Thanks so much for having Irene’s information on the internet and also in the papers. I was away when she died. Irene and Lil Carlson and I went to Greece together in 1982 and had a fine time. Irene’s cheerfulness could be depended upon and I always enjoyed knowing her. I went to her apartment last year to give her a recorder that had been my dad’s. She said she would loan it out to students which made me happy that it would be used after many years of non-use. You had a wonderful mom who was a good friend to Lil and myself. Joyce Farmer. No need to make contact, but if you wish my email is j.farmer@mindspring.com
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