Christmas Recital 2010

O Holy Night, Batman!  That's a lot of notes!

I'm happy to report that Ben and Will's piano recital went very, very well!  Despite the over-abundance of snow on Sunday, all the piano students and their families, except for one, were able to make it.  All the kids played wonderfully.

Ben opened the recital with O Holy Night.  He had been struggling with that song and working so hard for weeks, and up until a couple days before the recital we were all a little bit concerned about whether or not it would come together.  But, as always, things eventually just clicked for him and his fingers found all the right keys for the performance.  Even the dramatic ending.  But he wasn't out of the woods quite yet! 

For his second song, Ben played the Beatles Let It Be.  This song was his summer project.  His piano teacher challenged him to learn something over the summer that really interested him; something to keep him at the piano during the break from lessons.  When he brought it to her polished up at his first lesson this past fall, she asked him if he wanted to play it at the Christmas recital, with one caveat, he would have to sing it as well.  Gasp!  Well, never one to back down from a challenge, Ben learned the lyrics and sang with confidence and great success!  It was a real ego boost for him when the usual polite applause included some whoops and hollers!  Many parents approached him afterward to say what a good job he did.  I was just relieved that he had stayed in tune! 

William, nerves of steel, waited patiently for his turn in the spotlight and at number 12 in the program, he had a nice bit of separation from his brother's performance.  This was Will's second Christmas recital and the first in which he played a solo piece.  Last year both his tunes were duets with his teacher.  To start off his set, Will played Angels We Have Heard on High and played every note perfectly.   I am always amazed at the fact that he is never nervous when he performs.  Over and over he has told me how fun it is to get up in front of everyone and play.  He surely does not get that from his anxiety ridden mother!

For his second piece, Will played a duet on  O Come All Ye Faithful with his teacher.  The connection of the duet is something William really grooves on.  Being a child of very, very few words, playing a tune with someone seems to be an expression of love and enjoyment for him.  He rocks the duet!  And also improv with his dad on guitar!  Anyway....the duet was beautiful and the smile on his face when he took his bow was even more beautiful to me!  Now maybe I'll see if I can get in on the action for the spring recital.  I have a feeling a duet with Will is in my future!