‘The music holds so much emotion’

Piano major says, ‘When it comes to playing music ... I just feel a sense of peace.’

By Tyndale Communications  /  Monday, October 28, 2024

Helen Lawrence playing piano

Like many students, Helen Lawrence chose Tyndale because she wanted to attend a Christian university in Ontario. It was as simple as that.

“I didn’t want to go too far away from home,” she says. “And I also wanted a university where I would feel the same way I felt at summer camp, where we are all a big family in Christ. And that’s exactly what I got, so I’m really thrilled.”

While this is a story about Helen’s music education at Tyndale, she actually began her studies as an English major.

“Since I was little I wanted to write books, so I had always known I would go into English,” she says. “It wasn’t until the end of my second year at Tyndale that I added my Piano major. I think they play into each other in a lot of ways. In both music and literature there are conventions, rules to follow that can be broken if you know what they’re there for, and how to break them.

“There were times I couldn’t understand why God would choose my last year to impress upon me the desire to have a Piano major, only for this injury to happen and severely limit my piano playing. I struggled a bit to understand and trust him through it.”

“For a book, you can figure out what the author is telling you through different literary devices, and you can infer themes and make connections. For music, you need to use what is given you to create a musical sound that does depend on the performer: what you put into the piece, how you follow the directions, and what you add to it. English and Music are fun majors to do together.”

But fun was the last thing on Helen’s mind when, just before her third year began, she chipped her right heel bone.

“I started my third year with my right ankle – my piano pedal ankle – in a cast. That was a long year of ankle issues, on crutches, in a walking cast, having to use a cane,” she says. “It was a whole ordeal.

“I had never accompanied before, and it was a beast of a piece. Four key changes, the accompaniment style would change with each, too. By the end, I was playing four-note eighth-note chords! It was crazy. But when I sat back down in my seat after that, I just had this distinct feeling that this was what I was supposed to be doing.”

“There were times I couldn’t understand why God would choose my last year to impress upon me the desire to have a Piano major, only for this injury to happen and severely limit my piano playing. I struggled a bit to understand and trust him through it. I wondered if I had made a mistake, and I wasn’t supposed to do the Piano major?

“But throughout it all, two facts remained: God had given my hands the skill to play the piano, and He had given me a soul that was immediately at rest as soon as I played the first notes of a song. When it comes to playing music ... I just feel a sense of peace. A rightness. That this is something God created me to do, and I know by doing it well, I’m glorifying him. I don’t know all the ways He’s going to use these skills, but I will just keep working on excellence, ready to follow his directions.”

Helen credits her piano professor, Dr. Joy Lee, for her becoming a Piano major. After she signed up, she says Dr. Lee directed a student towards her, who needed an accompanist for his end-of-the-year worship project.

“I had never accompanied before, and it was a beast of a piece,” she says. “Four key changes, the accompaniment style would change with each, too. By the end, I was playing four-note eighth-note chords! It was crazy. But when I sat back down in my seat after that, I just had this distinct feeling that this was what I was supposed to be doing.”

Dr. Lee was also instrumental in finding Helen a position as a (Junior Intern) Collaborative Pianist with the North Toronto Songbirds (NTS), a vibrant, holistic music education program for children aged four to 14. She works with the Robins – students in Grades 3 and 4 – playing piano accompaniment for them to sing their warm-ups and songs to. She also participates in some of the vocal exercises and games, helping keep the students focused on their conductor, and modelling active listening when she is just sitting at the piano not playing anything.

“It’s more than just being there and playing the piano, although that’s a big part of it,” Helen says. “Already, I’ve grown more confident in learning sheet music in a short amount of time and playing it for people to sing to. I’m learning essential accompaniment skills, like not playing too loudly because the singers are the main event; keeping the tempo steady even when the kids might not be; and not stopping to correct little mistakes, but staying on track and keeping the pace for the singers.

“There are many paths open to me at this point, and I know God will lead me in the right direction when the time comes. I’m not worried, just open to receive what He has for me and follow his prompting.”

“This job is a really wonderful environment. I’m learning so much, and I know that this is growing confidence for later, when I need to apply for jobs.”

As for her future, Helen is on track to graduate in Spring 2026.

“I’m not sure what my exact plans are,” she says. “I have a few different options. I could pursue more education to become an English or Music teacher. I’ve had many people tell me they think I would be a good teacher.

“I really love my NTS job, so I would be quite happy to find more accompaniment jobs and teach piano lessons, which I wouldn’t need further education for.

“There are many paths open to me at this point, and I know God will lead me in the right direction when the time comes. I’m not worried, just open to receive what He has for me and follow his prompting.”

In the meantime, if you see Helen around the campus wearing headphones or earbuds, know she’s probably listening to a favourite movie soundtrack of hers.

“I love all orchestral music in general,” she says, “but there’s something I extra love about movie soundtracks. You can get captured by the music. It tells a story, even if you don’t know the movie. The music holds so much emotion. I just love it so much, I could listen to orchestral soundtracks all day.”