My name is Lula, better known as Lulu. My family consists of 4 kids, 15 grandkids and 4 great-grandkids. I have had a teaching career of 36 years in the public schools of Louisiana and California. I was born in Houston, Texas and raised in Deridder, Louisiana by my grandmother. I started playing piano in Baptist churches in Louisiana when I was 9 years old. I played gospel music for 30 years before I decided to give it up to let other "younger" kids take the seat at the piano or organ (I play both). My gift as a very talented musician comes from God. As far back as 3 years old, I can remember wanting to play a "pinana".
Teaching in the public schools has been the greatest experience of my life. I have spent most of my teaching in elementary schools. Just to see the eyes of the little ones light up when they are enjoying the music class was more rewarding than I can explain in words. They learned to sing, to dance, to read music and to just enjoy whatever I presented to them. Going to school daily was a "joy" rather than a "job". It was what I liked to do most in life, so each day I looked forward to getting up and going to school to "entertain".
In 1989, several elementary teachers of Alifal Union Elementary School District asked me to make cassettes for them to buy to use in the place of having a "live teacher" in the classroom. They knew that the districts were starting to eliminate music teachers because they felt music was not as important as the "academics". So I started preparing my unique methods on paper. I had a computer specialist print my information that was on paper in book form. I then hired a video specialist to tape me teaching what was in the book. I then put the project aside until 2004. I knew it was time to retire, but I still wanted a link to kids still learning music through me. So I named my project "Learning to Play Lulu's Way".
No one on the globe, that I know of, has created the material I have in my project, the way I have it organized. On January 3, 2005 I retired form the public school system. I am putting the project out on the internet and everywhere I can so that anyone (especially children 6 years and up) can get exposed to the basics in learning to play music so they can become involved in school bands, orchestras, jazz groups, pop groups, etc. and get a joy in knowing that they have what it takes to succeed. I am traveling place to place to explain the importance of "families" as well as individuals, to purchase a copy of the "whole package", which can be used for the rest of their lives.
