November 20, 2012

do you play?

Neighbor Jordan came over to practice his piano lessons. I was so inspired that I almost busted out my old piano books.


 I took lessons as a kid. But in the words of Elizabeth Bennett:

And then Libby was over a few days later and started practicing one of my favorite minuets on our piano. And I felt so nostalgic.

That's it!

I'm determined to start practicing this month: a minuet and some Christmas songs. And I was also thinking of buying sheet music for the Music Box. It's my favorite song on the piano. I always BEG John to play it for me. 

Today, by some sheer luck, I actually found the sheet music for the Music Box in our piano bench, of all places! I mean, who put it there...with all the other sheet music...

So I started pecking away at the keys. The trills are, by far, my favorite part of this song. Aren't they cute?

However. I'm playing the song at a snails pace, so it's barely recognizable.

It reminds me of the time I was in the hand bell choir, in college. We were doing a recital in front of chapel, playing the famous song called Trepak, from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. Believe, me, if you heard it, you would immediately recognize it. Go listen.

So there we stood, poised for action, in our black outfits and little white handbell gloves.

The percussion band ahead of us was coincidentally going to play the SAME song. And when they started playing, we were like "noooooooooooooo!" You see, they were playing it fast(well, proper speed) and so it sounded just like the famous Trepak. But when we played it on hand bells, it was in such slow motion that you had no idea it was even the same song. And we had no clue until we heard it performed correctly.  I think my face it still red just thinking about that day.

Well, I'm not gonna let that happen again. I'm gonna practice Music Box till I can do it fast. And then I shall perform a recital, ha.

As a kid, I wasn't very good at recitals. I curtsied once and flashed my underwear.

Another time I forgot my song and just kind of slammed my hands down on the piano and sat down. Mom. Did I really do that? I think I've blocked it from my memory.

Anyhow. I am very excited to practice again. Use it or loose it.

And I used to play the recorder too! I think I could play 'Happy Birthday' and 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen'. I lost my recorder a while back and I fear it will talk me years to re-learn my two songs.

And yes, I did design my very own ee cards this post, thankyouverymuch. Hey. It's harder than it looks. So no mocking.

Did you even know you could make your own? Because you can.


Ok, now get back to that instrument that you've ignored that past few years! Or waste invest your time making ee cards.

8 comments:

  1. This is too funny! Mom and I were just telling Kristin Minyard about your flash curtsie at a recital. Cracked us up :) Glad to see you are going to play again!!

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  2. i learned piano starting in 7th grade. one of my first songs was amazing grace and i was set to play it for offering at church. of course, the piano was ancient and the keys stuck. i was playing away and when a key stuck, it threw me off and i just stopped playing. thank God my back was facing the congregation. i started to cry and my mom as well as the other church pianist called out to just start over or keep going. ugh, i could cry again just thinking about it!

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    1. oh nooooo. sounds traumatizing!

      my mother just informed me yesterday that at a recital i once got stuck playing this same part of a song over and over and kept repeating it and she didn't think it would ever end. haaaa. i must have blocked it from my memory. but at least she says she didn't remember me slamming down on the keys like i thought i did:)

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  3. I'm impressed that you can play anything! I can't carry a tune in a bucket - on anything! Play sweet carols for your boys! Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

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  4. darnnit. i played piano for over 10 years...took a 5 year break (no access to a piano)...and have had a piano in my house for over 3 years now. whenever i try to play it's frustrating because it's not nearly as easy as i remember it.
    now i have to practice. darnnit.

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    1. yes practice! try not to get frustrated. just pick an easy song that you love to ease back in!

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  5. What a great post. The music you are playing looks very difficult, and very impressing! You inspiring to get better at my cello.. I don't get it out enough.. but love it when I do.. And thanks for the idea about cards, so cool!

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    1. i'm still slower than a snail so don't be too impressed. perhaps i'm a bit ambitious. or stubborn. or both;)

      but seriously a cello sounds INFINITLY more difficult than a piano, so props to you!

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