Tears and pianos go together for Karen Marie Garrett.
Clear streams curve down her cheeks, accompanying the pressing of ivory keys whether she's playing at home, in a sound studio or at a concert hall. Releasing smiles or tears is not unusual for Garrett, who turned to the piano for healing in 1994. She now hopes to share that healing with others with her second CD, "The Allure of Sanctuary."
"My hope is to take them on a journey, but let that journey be theirs," Garrett said.
The CD has debuted on radio stations all over the United States and reached No. 33 on the top 100 New Age Airwaves chart weeks after its release.
Her melodies push and pull, weaving a course of crescendos and diminuedos. The songs create a peaceful mood in the listener, and have been used in yoga classes and art galleries.
Garrett, 56, grew up in Vancouver, Wash., and spent much of her childhood swept into the music of classic composers such as Mozart, Chopin and Beethoven. Her training began at 6 and at 12, she began studying with Carolyn James, an accredited teacher with Sherwood Conservatory of Music in Chicago. She finished the program in four years and was ready to begin graduate school at Sherwood Conservatory at 16.
Her parents could not afford the conservatory. When James offered to pay Garrett's tuition, they declined to let her move to Chicago.
Garrett soon followed after other pursuits: She became an accountant, married her high school sweetheart, Brad Garrett, and had two children. The family lived in many cities, including Centralia for 12 years, where her son graduated from Centralia High School. Her song, "Simple Things," reminds her of her time living in Centralia.
"Centralia was a time for family," Garrett said.
Her husband often encouraged her to rent a piano, an instrument she no longer owned. But she was never satisfied with having such limited time to play and usually returned them early.
In 1994, Brad Garrett was diagnosed with cancer and died four months later. The tragedy sent Garrett to the piano store, after not having owned one for 25 years.
She spent hours playing and eventually found a sense of healing. She now spends a minimum of four hours a day playing in her Olympia home. The experience helped her to become more emotionally connected with music than before.
"I was passionate, but it wasn't as close to the surface," Garrett said.
In 2002, she released a classical recording called "Pensare," which she sent to producer Will Ackerman for advice. Ackerman is credited with pioneering the New Age music movement and recently won a Grammy for best New Age album of 2004.
He produced "Allure of Sanctuary," which was recorded between George Lucas' Skywalker Sound Studios in California and Ackerman's Imaginary Road Studio in Vermont.
The CD has received positive reviews, and Garrett is hoping for a Grammy nomination.
"It's safe to say Ackerman knows how to produce a successful album," said Allen Clapp of the Palo Alto Weekly in February 2005, in reference to "Allure of Sanctuary."
Ackerman said he has been approached by many New Age artists, and found Garrett's training refreshing.
"I liked that there is a very solid base of classical training," Ackerman said. "She's a real piano player, not just someone dabbling."
Julia Nicholls is a feature writer for The Chronicle. She may be reached at 807-8245, or by e-mail at jnicholls@chronline.com.
If you go
Who: Karen Marie Garrett, pianist, composer and recording artist
What: "The Allure of Sanctuary," a New Age-classical piano CD
For information about Karen Garrett, her recordings or to purchase a CD, visit www.kgpiano.com.
