Piano Recital 2009

Landon had his piano recital on Wednesday. As with any other type of individual performance, Landon got himself completely worked up and freaked out over playing his pieces from memory in front of everyone. I won't even get into the details, but let me just tell you....I was one frustrated mommy by the time the night was over.

Of course his freak out was for nothing as he played both of his songs great. He did a really good job, and honestly, I wasn't worried about his ability for a minute. As his momma...I've heard him play those songs FOR MONTHS now. The stinker is just so worried about messing up or not being able to be perfect in front of other people that he would rather just quit everything and not try. It's hard to watch him do this to himself, and my heart literally breaks for the kid.

Anyway....back to his performance. He played 'Rover Roll Over' and 'Just Jazzin'. This is his third year of playing the piano and his sixth recital.

Here is a group shot of the kids he performed with. Landon has had fun being able to take his piano lessons back to back with my cousin, Taryn. He's the one standing next to Landon in the glasses. Even though Taryn is my cousin, he was born just six months before Landon. This year, my mom asked me to play a two piano duet with her. It was called 'Waltz for Two Pianos'. I had to get my piano brain back up and running in order to pull it off, but I think we got through it well.

We're going to be taking the summer off from piano and hopefully by the time school starts back up again Landon will be ready to get back into the swing of things.

Play that funky music

Tonight was Landon's piano recital. This is something he has been stressing over for a while. He has played in two other recitals, however, the first one he played in he conned his teacher {my mom} into letting him use his music even though he didn't need it, and the second one didn't require memorization. This year, he was given the warning that no amount of pleading to his Nana would work. He had his pieces perfect. But, he still wanted to go and have a piano lesson today JUST IN CASE. This could have been a free week for him! You'd think he'd take a week off? Nope. He had to squeeze one more time in to make sure he had it just right.
This afternoon {5 hours till the recital} he asked me what would happen if he got sick. Would he still have to go to the recital? His mean mom told him that even if he threw up, he was playing at the recital. :0)
Two hours later he pleaded for his music. His mean mom told him he didn't need it. He had his pieces memorized PERFECT.
My son takes after his mommy. When we stress...it seriously affects our tummies. {too much information?} My poor son was in the potty for a while after he began to realize he was really going to have to go through with it. :0(
Landon was third on the list of kids playing the piano. He saw that some of the other kids only had to play one piece. He was mad. "How come they only have to play one and I have to play two?!" Honestly, my mom was only going to have him play one, because she knew how stressed he got at recitals. But, she had given him the 'Star Wars Theme' for a fun song to play a few months back thinking it would be something that would challenge him and he LOVED it. So much so, that he began to memorize it on his own. So, she had him play it as well for the recital. Anyway....the first child begins to play and he starts begging again.
Landon: "What if I throw up on the piano?"
Me: "Well, I guess you'll just have to go play on the other one then."
L: "What if I throw up on that one too?"
M: "We'll clean it off and you can start all over again."
Aren't I just the meanest? What worse is that he takes after me. So I completely understand his fear. We are perfectionists. And honestly...if we can't do it right...it's not worth doing at all right? And goodness knows we can't let people know we could actually mess up!
I feel for this boy. But, I know if he isn't pushed to do things outside of his comfort zone, he could end up being scared to do EVERYTHING. I don't want that for him. Besides...he plays beautifully. I have to show him off right? :0)
The second child got up to play, and he is whispering his pleadings in my ear now. "PUH-lease mom! What if I mess up? What if I forget the song?"
I continue to reassure him. The second girl finishes and as the audience claps, he tells me he's not getting up there. I tell him he will play great and to not worry about it. He gives me a frightened look, and stands up.
Can I just tell you what an awesome job he did? Yes, he missed a note in the first song, and had a minor error in the second...but he kept going and finished each song fabulously. He did it! I'm so proud! And honestly...I'm relieved. Because as nervous as he was....I was three times as nervous for him. I played each song in my head as he played it on the piano. His staccato's were magnificent....and his last note of 'Indian Dance' was as fortisimo as his skinny little arms could play it.
His reward? Cold Stone! Yes, we went and ate really fattening ice cream with Jaysen's parents and my mom. Thanks to Rita and Perry, and my Grams and Gramps for coming to the recital. It meant a lot to Landon that you were there.

Christmas Recital

Tonight was Landon's Christmas Piano Recital. He got to play Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer for his solo piece and then two ensemble pieces as well. Before my mom had to cut back a bit a few years ago, she had oodles of students who took group lessons. Meaning, she had four full sized keyboards hooked up and each student used their own keyboard and they all played together. So good for kids who need help with timing and counting (which is most of them!) Anyway...she got out three of her keyboards and had the kids play a few songs as ensembles. Each child playing a different part (harmonies and what not). It makes it so much fun for the kids. Landon was really having a hard time with one of the songs, and so in order to coax him into playing I told him that I would play the treble clef during the recital and all he had to play was the bass clef notes. He did awesome. And it's always fun to play a "duet" with him. He even got to play the final song, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, with a couple other students while we all sang along. He was so proud of himself and he had so much fun with it. I think all of the kids did. No memorizing pieces, just playing fun Christmas tunes with their friends.

Good job Landon! You did great!