When you watch Hulda Erdman play the piano, you might notice that the notebooks in front of her only contain lyrics, no music notes. “I play by ear,” she said. Erdman, who recently celebrated her 103rd birthday in North Dakota, owns dozens of notebooks filled with her favorite church hymns. “They’re all favorites I guess. I can’t just pick one,” she told KFYR. Although she can’t read music and never had a lesson, Erdman has been sharing her talents for most of her life. “I started learning to play when I was young. Maybe 12 or 14 years,” she said. She was one of 13 children in a musical family. Growing up, Erdman’s parents and siblings sang, while several members of the family also played instruments by ear. Music has gotten Erdman through the highs and lows of life. “I used to play all Sunday afternoon after my husband died,” she said. “That was my pastime Sundays. Coming home from church and then I’d sit down and play and sing.”To celebrate turning 103, Erdman recently performed a concert for the staff and residents at the care center where she lives. A livestream of her concert got thousands of views. “I couldn’t believe it was all the way to Washington, D.C. and Maryland,” she said.Erdman didn’t just receive views but hundreds of birthday wishes and phone calls from family all over. Looking back, Erdman doesn’t have any secrets to a long life, but did give credit to her faith. “The Lord was good to me,” she said.
When you watch Hulda Erdman play the piano, you might notice that the notebooks in front of her only contain lyrics, no music notes.
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“I play by ear,” she said.
Erdman, who recently celebrated her 103rd birthday in North Dakota, owns dozens of notebooks filled with her favorite church hymns.
“They’re all favorites I guess. I can’t just pick one,” she told KFYR.
Although she can’t read music and never had a lesson, Erdman has been sharing her talents for most of her life.
“I started learning to play when I was young. Maybe 12 or 14 years,” she said.
She was one of 13 children in a musical family. Growing up, Erdman’s parents and siblings sang, while several members of the family also played instruments by ear.
Music has gotten Erdman through the highs and lows of life.
“I used to play all Sunday afternoon after my husband died,” she said. “That was my pastime Sundays. Coming home from church and then I’d sit down and play and sing.”
To celebrate turning 103, Erdman recently performed a concert for the staff and residents at the care center where she lives. A livestream of her concert got thousands of views.
“I couldn’t believe it was all the way to Washington, D.C. and Maryland,” she said.
Erdman didn’t just receive views but hundreds of birthday wishes and phone calls from family all over.
Looking back, Erdman doesn’t have any secrets to a long life, but did give credit to her faith.
“The Lord was good to me,” she said.
