 At the age of 8 or 9, she began lessons with Mrs Louise Powell (who also played by ear and helped her to develop this ability as well as teaching her to read music).When she was 11, she joined her first band, a group of young (13 years old) local jazz musicians, and together they won first prize at " The Battle of the Bands ", a competition held in Shreveport, Louisiana.Judy Blair began playing organ after becoming completely passionate after playing her cousin's Hammond.