March is a busy piano month for our family with Piano Solo Festival and my own studio recital happening the first two weeks of the month. Even though I had half as many students participate in festival this year, I was forced into the illustrious title of Festival Chairman--making this year's "festival week" the most busy year yet. All of my eleven students played well, and my three kiddos each received perfect scores... A feat that was harder than ever. I remember learning about Beethoven as a kid... about how his wicked father would stand beside him and whip him when he made a mistake. Though I own no whips, I sometimes think my children think of me as a cruel, unloving mother who forces these terrible, unwanted music lessons upon her children. Kyler cried, stomped, and pouted for weeks before festival--threatening and begging to quit. He perfected his pieces the night before festival much to his mother's dismay. McKenna, on the other hand, loves piano, but the demands of her dance classes seem to be overshadowing piano a bit. We are trying hard not to let that happen as we I know that piano will be more useful throughout her life. Her pieces were very prepared, but then she went away to her dance competition--missing a week of practice and festival itself. She was a little rusty when she got home (on the day of her make-up judging), but she almost always performs better under pressure--a trait I sure wish I possessed! Her judge actually clapped for her after she finished. I was one proud teacher (and Mama)!
This was Carson's first year playing in festival, and, very unlike his older brother, he didn't have a nervous bone in his body. He just couldn't wait to get in there to meet his judge. Before starting his piece, he sat on the piano bench and had a five minute conversation with his judge--a first, for sure!
Kyler, like always, literally played to perfection. He is sooooo talented... which is why I will soooooo never let him quit! Sorry son. (Insert wicked laugh here.)
It is so important to me that my children learn an instrument. Music has almost always been a part of the happiest and most sacred experiences in my life. Keeping the practice and lessons in my home going is a daily battle (that I fail at most days), but it is my greatest hope that, one day, my kids will get to that point where music is no longer a chore (or cruel punishment), but a delight! ...That they'll experience a "musical moment"... one like I did singing the Hallelujah Chorus in a college classroom where the Spirit filled my entire being with the knowledge that the words I sang were true. Then, just maybe, they will think of ME... the relentless, mean, screaming mother that drug them to that point... and forgive me.
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