This afternoon my daughter K had a piano recital. She has one in late spring and for Christmas every year. Her teacher is a very talented and creative person who is good with kids and mixes it up by having formal recitals at her church, informal “coffee shop” recitals at her studio, and community “give back” recitals at the local Masonic home.
Today the recital was at the Masonic home. It was nice because, not only did the kids get to perform their musical piano pieces, but the elderly residents were able to enjoy the seasonal musical pieces. K played two songs — “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “Carol Of The Bells”. And her rendition of “Carol Of The Bells” was one of the best I have ever heard. I love the song and she did a wonderful job and it made my day to hear her.
One of the funny things I whispered to my wife during the 2 hour recital was around the keyboard. You see, they did not have a full size piano, but rather an electronic keyboard. The piano teacher was changing the sound output between each song so it did not always sound like a piano. She was partial to strings, organ and woodwind. And she did this because you can only hear “Jingle Bells” on the piano so many times. Changing the sounds mixes it up and extends the audience’s tolerances to little kids pounding through their piano songs. K used to be there a few years ago but she is at the end of the program now rather than the beginning. And her songs are now more than one stanza. But back to my funny.
I leaned over to my wife and said how cool would it be if the piano teacher selected the electronic dog sound. Think “Jingle Bells” barked out — Arf, arf, arf arf, arf, arf arf, arf, arf, arf, arrrrrf. Or the “moo” of a cow. Or even better, how ’bout the cool helicopter sound. THAT sure would have livened up the recital. Anyway, since that didn’t happen, the highlight was my daughter’s “Carol Of The Bells”.
K, you sure did a wonderful job and I am so proud of you!
…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net
