Mom "MADE ME" Quit!

The Spring Piano Recital represented so much MORE than a studio of students playing pieces they had worked on for several months.


It represented:

• a commitment to an act of beauty

• the ability to present oneself in a public situation with grace and ease

• a skill that had been practiced daily for years, slowly improving with each lesson

I feel quite strongly about playing a musical instrument, and the piano just happens to be our instrument of choice.   

My daughter has been taking lessons for three years now.  She practices 20-30 minutes every day.  She takes a lesson once a week (yes, even in summer) and attends group theory classes. 


In the beginning this was something I just declared she would DO... a part of what her dad and I believed was essential for her to learn.   Yes, there have been times where she has felt like throwing in the towel, but (since I have been there myself and know these feelings usually pass) we have encouraged her to keep going and provided motivators along the way.  

This is now a skill SHE has chosen to practice and perfect.   I love seeing her hard work come to fruition.  I believe these performances are invaluable.   I watch her approach the piano with confidence, play with grace, and see the pride in her sweet smile.   

Here is the footage of the recital.  {When will I learn to hold my iPhone sideways?  I was a little nervous and forgot this at the recital!}

My brother played the piano quite well, but he quit lessons somewhere along the way... he now jokes with me, "I'd be really good at the piano if mom wouldn't have MADE me quit!"  I happen to know it didn't quite happen THAT way.  

Thankfully, my mom was older and wiser by the time I was involved in piano lessons - she made me keep going, and I cannot thank her enough.

*Image courtesy Crouchy69

Comments

[newsongmusicstudios]

Your daughter plays beautifully! So wonderful that you've encouraged her along the way to stay with it. Tell her to keep it up. she'll never be sorry, and she just may make a few people smile along the way. Her second song was my favorite.

[Theresa]

This post makes me want to make the girls continue their lessons. Maybe I have been trying to get them to practice too long--our teachers all recommended 45 minutes to one hour per day.

It's a tough call...P is auditioning for voice lessons in two weeks and Allie is preparing a portfolio for an art class (her art teacher this year recommended her for it!) both of these are offered at the Prep school...not sure if we could swing piano lessons and the tuition for these two classes!

[Debbie]

She is playing beautifullly. My kids have their first concert on June 1st.

[Rachel E.]

What a lovely job she did. I would love to play the piano. My son plays the violin. He has played for about 6 months. My oldest daughter also played but quit. I wish I had made her continue. I love hearing the music.

[The Adventurer]

Great job, both my kids play and are taking their level one UK test next month:)

[Ellen]

Mary, we feel very strongly that piano lessons (at our house) are part of a well-rounded education. One of my dc would quit if I allowed it, but I won't. I quit after 8th grade and now wish so much that I hadn't! Now I only know enough to be dangerous. Also, I love your points about all a recital represents; I couldn't agree more! Our recital is next week, and I'm looking forward to it!