The Verniers are a home schooling family that performs ensemble music at nursing homes, churches, reunions, and family events. They will play at the Pioneer Museum this Friday evening for the “What’s It Worth” appraisal show. Photo by Phil Houseal
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Details:
The Verniers will perform at the Pioneer Museum this Friday for the “What’s It Worth” appraisal show. Admission is $30 for GCHS members, $35 for nonmembers. For information on the event, call 830-997-2835 or visit www.pioneermusem.net. To book the Verniers, call 830-997-7695 or email gari@wildblue.net.
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The Verniers: A family of music
by Phil Houseal
Mar 17, 2010
Searching for a fiddle duo or a piano trio for a wedding or funeral? Need a classical string quartet to add ambience? How about a country band at your next barbecue? Or, for something different, a Celtic Ceili?
Call the Verniers.
This versatile musical family can do it all. The Verniers are six home-schooled children - all under 19 - with their mother, Gari, and father, Jim. When they moved to Fredericksburg seven years ago, they didn’t really intend to start a family band. But as the kids successively began taking lessons and playing in the Hill Country Youth Orchestra, it just sort of happened.
“Before we knew it we had a string quartet,” said Gari.
Here is the lineup:
Audri, 19, is on cello.
Charles, 17, plays viola.
Ellen, 15, plays violin.
Natasha is 13 and plays violin.
Joel, 12, is studying piano. Justice, 11, is learning guitar and picked up harmonica after hearing a friend “blowing Dixie.” They all play piano.
Gari, a classically trained musician, coordinates the music, home schools them all, and accompanies on piano and guitar. Jim Vernier is an anesthesiologist, who also sings and “enthusiastically supports their ministry.”
I heard them at the Vintage Wedding Dress Fashion Show last week, and again at Heritage Place, one of the nursing homes they play on a regular basis.
“We do love playing at nursing homes,” Gari said. “It keeps us going, and the people touch us deeply.”
They are a charming, attractive, and talented group. Of course it is always fun to hear the kids describe the dynamics of playing with their siblings. When I was in my 20s, I “cajoled” my teenaged brothers into starting a band. Rehearsal wasn’t always sweetness and light, but all became sweet when we stepped into the lights.
Audri and Ellen remember wanting to start lessons from the age of 4, though Audri admitted she “kind of kicked and screamed when mom wanted me to practice.”
“But over the years I have grown to love the instrument and enjoy playing cello,” she said.
Natasha, who began at age 6, admitted, “I didn’t really enjoy it when I was younger. But now I do.”
Charles spoke for youth everywhere. “I enjoyed taking lessons, but I do not enjoy practicing.” His siblings laughed and nodded in agreement. Audri bailed him out.
“But Charles enjoys practicing with us a lot!”
That interplay and mix of character traits is actually an asset to the music, according to Ellen. “We don’t always get along, and sometimes we all have different ideas what needs to be done, but it is really great in the end because our personalities come out in how we play our music.”
Gari has the honor putting all those pieces together. “Mom,” Audri explained, “is our musical director/counselor/peacemaker lady.”
“Mom” smiles and asks, “What do we say is the main thing - more important than a polished performance?”
Audri replied. “That we glorify God.”
Mom nodded. “We glorify God by obeying him in how we treat each other. We are learning patience and how to give and receive criticism gracefully so we can all improve. I see that as a valuable reason to keep this going, besides the blessings we give to others.”
For now the family enjoys putting on concerts in nursing homes. Besides sharing their gifts, these performances “give us a reason to practice.”
As for the future, it is inevitable that each will eventually go their separate way. Audri already has recorded a solo Bach suite for a documentary, and is working on innovative arrangements of her music. The others have interests in film, video, and computers. Meanwhile, it’s all about family.
“We don’t have professional aspirations,” Gari said. “We play as a ministry. This is a gift of God. It brings people much pleasure, and live music is a rare thing these days. We find it really does make a difference.”