Practicing to Fail

Perhaps I should say "practicing to falter."

I had one of the most interesting piano lessons yesterday.  As you know, my very first piano recital is on Sunday.  After seven months of lessons, having not been able to read much music or play more than "Good King Wenceslas" (the easy version) when I began in September, I had said I would play at the spring recital alongside all of the kiddos; I've been practicing my piece, "Finlandia," for three months.  And then, well, emergency.

I have debated whether I could play since having my surgery.  Everyone, family and piano teacher included, is encouraging and understanding--play if you can, don't if you can't, but don't stress about it.  I've practiced the transitions where I move my hands so that they are smoother; I've practiced the timing because sometimes my count is just a bit off.  I've even practiced in front of people--the kids, Mama, Gommie in-laws, friends--so I get used to playing for others. Some days, I get through my song just fine; other days, I hit so many wrong notes.  Pain and narcotics usage definitely has an effect.

So yesterday, my teacher and I practiced how to mess up.  No faces, no squeals, no waving my hands in frustration.  Play through.  Pretend you didn't mess up.  Slow down if it's a part that troubles you (or speed up right through it!)  If it's an egregious mistake (several wrong notes in a row), start the phrase over.  If it's the first few notes, start the whole song over.  She says that everyone messes up, that oftentimes only the players notice.  It's a very forgiving audience.

And you know what?  Recognizing that I knew how to fix a mistake--acknowledging that I was going to make a mistake and should therefore not aim for perfect (which, my teacher called a "crapshoot!")--freed up my playing immensely and I made fewer mistakes!  Some of the paralysis left.

So, for now, I'm definitely playing "Finlandia" on Sunday, mistakes and all.


(Because I know people like an update, yesterday was really good.  I stayed on top of my pain meds and had a good, useful, relaxing day.  I have follow-ups with cardiologist on Thurs and surgeon on Friday.  Expecting it all to be fine.)

Practice, Practice, Practice

The strains of "Finlandia" are now a constant in the house.  Because I'm going to be in a piano recital!  On Tuesday, we started the song (one of my favorites), the next one in my book, and my teacher said, "This would be a perfect piece for the recital in April."

I've never played in a recital, a childhood rite-of-passage for so many.  Mine will be in my fifth decade!  The kids are very supportive and excited for me.  When I said I was thinking about it, they chorused, "You have to!  Play, Mom, play!"

Who can say no to that audience?

That Time of Year

Even though we have almost exactly two more months of school, most of our extracurriculars are winding down and wrapping up in the next month or so.  Yes, it is time for recitals!  Our first one was yesterday:  Bud's spring piano recital.  You may recall the tension of last fall's performance (ahh, tellingly I didn't relate that part in the post, I see!  We arrived early at the library where it was to take place--not our town's library--and were told by the librarians that we had the wrong spot, so we went running around to the spot they thought, only to find out they were wrong and we had to go back to the library, getting there right before Bud's turn. And the librarians were extremely rude about it all. Very stressful.  This time the piano teacher straightened out the librarians in advance.)  This time the only glitch was Bud not being able to hear all of Goo's "break-a-legs" during his encouraging phone call before the performance (ah, I remember the time I went to Goo's piano recital, when he was maybe 15 or so?  He played last, the best!)

Anyway, Bud played both of his pieces beautifully--"All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera and "Cool Strut" from his workbook.  And his teacher handed him a ribbon afterwards, which he proudly had me pin on him.  He spent the rest of the recital listening and taking notes on what he wants to learn how to play:  "Fur Elise," "The Entertainer," and, odd one out, Taylor Swift's "Trouble."  I blame that last one on little Babysitter who makes music videos with the kids of Swift's songs.

Next up:  Sis's gymnastics exhibition, for which she is excited to wear a new pink leotard that matches the new hula hoops.  She's in the floor routine.  More about that in a couple of weeks.

He's Playing My Song

Bud had his first piano recital today, after just four months of lessons (and only 3 months with this teacher).  With a plate of homemade brownies in hand, we made our way to the library.  Bud played in the middle of the program and waited with increasing anticipation.  But he played his two pieces, "Good King Wenceslas" and "Joy to the World," very well indeed.  We were very proud, not only of his performance but in his interest and persistence in learning a new skill.

And yes, I cried.  Though, oddly, not during his part--I cried during the pieces of people a few ahead of him and then only again on the way home!

Coincidentally, "Wenceslas" was the first song I learned how to play during my summer of lessons after college, but his is already a more advanced version!