First I'd like to share a couple of videos from our ward's talent show, which was held Friday, May 24th. Usually, I hold my spring piano recital for my students around this time. This year, I decided to make the talent show my de facto recital. I figured it would be a good experience for the children to perform in front of a larger audience (there were probably around 75-100 people there, so that hope was definitely achieved). Instead of the performing two different songs (my usual recital requirement), I only required my students to play one song, so as not to "hog the spotlight" from other talented members of the ward.
Overall, it was a great night. I think the event organization was a little haphazard (some acts were added or dropped at the very last minute, and no program was ever printed, so it was sometimes hard to tell who was going on at what time. Plus, Nathan was asked to be an MC for the event, and well...I love my husband, but his host material was a bit lacking. Luckily, I think no one held it against him!). In spite of my initial worries, the program went fairly smoothly after dinner was served. The performances were great...and most of the performances were by kids, which is awesome! I love to see kids perform and show off their stuff.
Here's the song Lorelai performed...it's called "Indian Drums":
She was walking off forlornly at the video's end because she made one little mistake, and felt terrible about it. I reassured her that most performers make mistakes, and that I thought she did wonderfully. I am proud at how far she's come this year, and I hope her progress will continue. Teaching my own daughter piano has been a bit of an uphill battle lately; I know summer is not the best time to practice intensely, but maybe we'll still be able to have some fun together. I hope this night is something Lorelai will be proud of; she is quite the awesome child.
In a move that surprised many (especially myself!), I actually performed at the ward talent show as well. I was planning on sitting the night out, in deference to my students, but my friend Amanda approached me with a fun duet she suggested we play together. Funny thing...as a kid, I never liked duets, but now as an adult, I love them and want to try them all the time. It was a fancy variation on "Chopsticks"...behold the goodness! (and also my several mistakes...ugh)
It occurred to me, watching this video later that night, that I've never really seen myself playing piano before. I have had my music recorded on audio tapes in the past, but I've never watched a video of myself playing. Here are the completely irrational conclusions I came to, watching this video:
1. I need to lose weight. Yikes, look at those grandma-arms jiggling when I play! Also, my bottom is big, but I already knew that.
2. I make some pretty interesting "piano-faces" when I play. I purse my lips, I grimace, I do a bunch of weird stuff with my mouth. I wonder why nobody ever told me this before?
3. When I watch myself play, I am going to inevitably dwell on the mistakes I make. It is really hard for me to focus on the performance as a whole, because all I can think about is that section where I blew it, and relive it on the video over and over.
So, with those criticisms, maybe it's just as well I don't see recordings of my playing all that often...I get pretty insecure about it! However, as for the actual song, I have no regrets whatsoever. I didn't perform it perfectly, but it was a blast to learn and to practice with Amanda. I'm glad she gave me the opportunity to perform something a little more light-hearted than my usual classical music/church songs. Who knows; maybe I'll pull out the song again at a talent show sometime in the far future!
More Memorial Day weekend adventures to come...stay tuned.
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