Playing piano for fun and respect

Introduced to the piano as youngsters by their father Eliot Weiss, Hewlett residents Julie and Benjamin Weiss, have become accomplished musicians who have performed for local and international audiences.

Julie, 19, and Benjamin, 17, have been playing the piano since age 5, and the clarinet since age 9. Eliot, who played the piano, taught them for about three and a half years until they started receiving lessons from a professional.

Clarinet is the instrument Julie played in the Hewlett High School band. She graduated in 2011, and now plays the clarinet in SUNY Albany’s pep band. “Making music is such a peaceful, relaxing pastime that I like to do,” she said, about playing both the piano and clarinet.

Benjamin, entering his senior year at Hewlett High School, plays first clarinet in the school ensemble. In addition, every year he performs on the piano at the Christmas Eve Mass at Saint Barnabus Church in Bellmore and at the Remembrance Bereavement Ceremony at Bellevue Hospital Center. “I like the feeling that it gives me; it feels accomplishing and it feels good … it’s just a whole world of respect and it’s a lot of fun,” he said, about playing the piano.

Both siblings have performed as pianists for senior centers throughout Nassau County, such as the Hoffmann Manor of Long Beach, the Five Towns Senior Center and the Cedarhurst Jewish Community Center, and then in 2004 they began performing internationally. They have played at the Nightingale Home for the Aged in London five times.

“They love us, they’re always so warm and welcoming,” said Eliot, adding that this year one woman in the nursing home made his children special pottery plates to thank them. His son and daughter played popular songs and Jewish music. “We handed out song sheets for some of the seniors to sing along,” Eliot added.

On July 1, Julie and Benjamin played the piano at the Saul Eisenberg Senior Home in Munich, where about 40 survivors of World War II listened to show tunes, popular songs and Jewish medleys, Eliot said.

“They really love it, you could tell it brings joy to their day hearing their favorite songs,” Julie said. “It was also really eye opening to hear their stories of survival and their experiences during the war.”