November 2020 - It's The Little Things
Our studio recently completed a fall recital project - a 45-minute video compilation of each student performing a short piece. When viewing the finished product, it’s helpful to reflect on how many parts contributed to its construction:
every student selected and learned a piece - which involved reading notes, musical details, figuring out the choreography, hand placement, and pedaling
students then practiced the piece until it was performance-ready and/or committed to memory
each family followed a set of instructions for recording videos, in most cases creating multiple recordings to get one suitable for public viewing
once the video was complete, technological knowledge was required to transfer videos so they could be compiled
It’s truly mind-boggling, when one stops to think about it. Can you fathom what Mozart would think about such an endeavor?
Every student was vitally important to the completion of this project. Every student, as a valued member of my studio, is a part of a community. In this time of COVID-19, community and a sense of belonging is more important than ever. We don’t know when we’ll be able to gather physically together for an in-person recital. These virtual recitals, while they don’t truly mimic performance-day jitters, teach another valuable set of skills that will serve these kids well. They contributed to a beautiful finished product - a project, a performance, something of which they can be proud. “I did it!”
I am grateful every day for my students and their families, and thankful that we are on this journey of musical discovery together. All of the little things add up - the occasionally reluctant practice sessions, lessons, emails and texts filled with questions and answers, phone calls, photos exchanged, videos, new books, pianos being added to homes - together, we are making a difference in your child’s life. Thank you for all of your support, and have a happy Thanksgiving.
“Wizard of Oz” - Behind the scenes of the November 2020 virtual piano recital