A Day's Work

I have officially completed my first student piano recital! Actually make that two. Since joining up with a team of other music teachers and incorporating our very own music studio, we are now shaping the musical talents of 50 some children! 41 children performed on this Spring recital, so we ended up splitting the performers over 2 days.

Last night and tonight were the first recital experiences for not only me, but all of my students as well. Every single one of them performed. Even the ones who initially told either me or their moms that they didn't want to. I, however, didn't really give them the option. I made it clear to all the parents that I wouldn't force anyone, but I would proceed in their lessons coaching and preparing them to perform. I never asked anyone if they "wanted" to perform, I just assumed they would.

Two students in particular were very reluctant. Zoe's school music teacher called me after the school's Musical Talent Day to explain how Zoe had lost it and broke down sobbing after only two of her peers had performed because she was so nervous. She was only able to come back in after all the other students had left. I thought of all the inspiring and teacher-ey things I could and delivered a pep-talk fit for a king. Paige flat out refused to play from the moment she walked in the door of the church this evening. But we compromised. I agreed to give her introduction speech for her (hello, I'm XX and I will play XX by XX.), and she agreed to play as long as she didn't have to bow. Fine.

Both walked right up to the piano when it was their turn and nailed it! I was so proud! Yes, I was the soccer mom who couldn't help but give standing ovations to all her kids! Ok, I didn't really give standing ovations, but my pride was pretty much oozing over the pew and into the aisle. The next kid had to step over it as they walked up to the piano.

My youngest student bombed. And it was only later that I realized it was because he put his two pages of music up in the wrong order! Thankfully we figured it out and gave him an encore performance at the end.

We adjourned to much applause and a celebratory reception where the post-bedtime kids gobbled up all the sugar they could get their hands on and the parents chatted away while the wine flowed freely. Just before they left, Rylie came up to me. "Miss Caitlyn," she said, "one of the things I want to be when I grow up is a piano teacher."

I love my job!