It took a while to
get it all together this year, but finally we have a new family photo!
We were up in Sharon
for the weekend, a trip we squeezed in by driving just before each of the two
storms. We made what turned out to be a wise list minute decision to leave New
York on Thursday evening rather than risk being unable to drive due to snow on
Friday. As predictions for the second storm were moving the onset earlier and
earlier, we decided to get up very early this morning and head back to New
York. There has only been a dusting here but they were predicting quite a bit
of snow along the route from New York to Boston. So once again we have dodged
the bullet, so to speak.
Under ordinary
circumstances we would have just driven back yesterday. But we did not want to
miss Maya’s first “piano party,” also known as a recital. This effort to
perhaps decrease the fear of performing that many children and adults
experience is touching, but I can say without doubt that Maya was not fooled.
Simmie told us that she had a wonderful conversation with Maya on Sunday
morning. Maya said that she would not make any mistakes because she practiced
so well. Simmie asked her what she would do if she did make a mistake.
They talked through the possibilities and she decided she would simply pick up
where she left off and go on playing. She apparently did have a small glitch in
her first piece, but not being familiar with it I did not catch it. She
obviously handled it very well. Having played piano for many years and
performed in many concerts, I can say that being able to bounce back from a
glitch is at least as valuable as being able to play flawlessly, since no one
is able to do the latter all of the time.
Four students
performed, ranging from Maya through a young woman pursuing a master’s degree
in music. Maya did beautifully. She was poised and calm, sat at the piano with
perfect posture and hand position, and played three short pieces, the third a
duet with her teacher. After the students performed, the teacher served light
refreshments and then performed for those who wished to stay, which Simmie,
Maya, and I did. Maya was watching very intently for the first few minutes
before climbing into Simmie’s lap and falling asleep! She really does put all
of her energy into her playing. Of course the nap may have also been the result
of going to a sleepover party on Saturday night.
Wherever you are,
stay safe and warm!
Love,
Rebecca
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