The Holiday Recital Blues

Dec 15, 2008 by Nicole

‘Tis the season for holiday recitals.
They happen every year.
Kids learn their songs and practice hard
to bring a bit of cheer.

But on occasion, there comes a kid
for whom practice is a chore
They choose instead to play and chill,
until the night before.

The parents warn impending doom
will fall upon their kids.
Despite these words, the kids just yawn
as eyes roll behind their lids.

Then comes that fateful winter day,
when the theater is full.
Family, friends and loved ones come
to hear the music lull.

And then the child who did not try
steps up to take her place.
She sits right down stares at the keys,
fear drapes across her face.

She starts off slowly, tense as ice
hoping nobody can see,
That she does not know her songs that well
and misses half the keys.

She pauses midway thru the song,
not knowing what to do.
She’s lost her place, can’t remember
a thing, and wishes she was through.

The audience is still and quiet,
praying she’ll go on.
But there she sits, as tears well up,
the absense of a song.

She finally finds a few last notes,
finishes best she can.
We all applause with compassionate hearts,
she closes her music and stands.

A few minutes later her mom is told
she’s crying in the hall.
We feel for her, and remember well,
those many times we fall.

But there’s a lesson for everyone
in this sad but bitter truth.
It’s an important one that’s better learned
early in your youth.

It is our choice to work or not and to do so before we play.
We can try our best or not at all each and every day.

But the end result is what’s important, what outcome do we seek.
Do we wish to fall toward valleys or to climb the highest peak.

I was so sad this weekend when a girl in our son’s piano recital had a very difficult performance.  We felt for the girl and her parents.  It is a common occurence at recitals, particularly when kids reach an age where they are expected to be responsible for their own practice.  And this lesson can be a very hard one for some.  I hope my kids learned from observation.  And I hope the little girl doesn’t quit piano over this, because she’s actually very good, when she’s prepared. 

P.S. Brandon was very prepared, so we were relieved when he finished not having missed a note.  PHEW!!!!  One more concert done.