Turner's Piano Recital

For Turner's 6th birthday he only asked for a few gifts:

-A robe, which may have been his favorite thing, Thank you Aunt Amy, Uncle Jay, Delaney and Madden.

-Lego sets (thank you 90% of the people who celebrated his birthday)

and, Piano Lessons.

So, with the help of Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop, Mom-Mom Jill, and Poppy, (thank you, all), Turner began taking lessons.  Beginning slowly he just went every other week and thrn conflicts (both by us and the teacher) caused us to skip many weeks in between.  But, he kept going.  And, before long came his first piano recital.  10/9/2015

Well-dressed, well-practiced, and bursting with a shy excitement, he got up in front of an audience and performed his first three songs.

We are so proud of you, Turner.  Keep practicing, keep learning.  We look forward to the next one.

Every Rock Star has a First Recital!

Maybe he was born to perform? Maybe, in the spotlight is where he belongs? Maybe, he just loves music?  Maybe, he was just doing what was expected of him?

Ryder had his first piano recital Friday night.  Coincidentally, this was the same day as his Pre-K graduation, making the entire day of June 10th a big milestone for him.  A big milestone marked by a 103 fever.

He had only been taking lessons for about 6 weeks but as his fingers became stronger and more nimble you could hear him playing his short songs a little more smoothly.

He was more excited about his recital than his graduation!  He told me several times. On the day of he was dosed up on enough meds to keep the mercury from rising near febrile seizures and yet, he was still dressed (new red tie, new striped shirt, vest, new tie bar, and

sneakers), ready, and even peed on his own with plenty of time to spare.  This is not how he usually operates!   He posed for pictures and smiled and seemed to have a lighter step to his walk.

I admit it. I was a little nervous. Not about how well he would perform but that he would at all. He has a tendency to get shy at unexpected times.

As it turns out I had nothing to worry about.  When we arrived at Miss Mindy's house he went over to the performers corner accompanied only by Turner who insisted on sitting with the musicians.

He smiled and actually sat still as he waited his turn.  He was fourth out of 14.  He sat and listened (or, at least, seemed to) while the 3 musicians before him performed their renditions of songs including the classic “Hey Jude.” 

When Miss Mindy said, “And, the next performer will be Ryder.”  He got up from his chair, walked NOT RAN, over to the piano, looked out at the audience of about 50, found us, grinned, and began playing his songs.    When he was done (less than a minute later) he got up, and as a surprise to all of us, he looked at the audience one again and bowed.  HE BOWED!!  We had discussed sitting still, smiling, and listening.  We hadn’t discussed bowing.

I am not sure what made him to do that.  I asked but got no answer.  I know he studied Neil Young’s Live Rust DVD for about a year but I am not sure if the rocker ever took a bow.  Maybe he did?

After, there were snacks and refreshments that he enjoyed but not as much as enjoyed talking to the older boys who were much more experienced at tickling the ivories.  A sweet boy named Jacob showed him a few things and told him all he had to look forward to in the upcoming years if he continued. 

As a recital gift I bought him the sheet music for some of his favorite tunes: Spiderman Theme, Superman Theme, Big Time Rush, Powder Finger, and Squeeze Box.  He is not ready for any of them but I too wanted to show him what he had to look forward to if he kept up the good work.  He was super excited and is hoping Miss Mindy can show him how to play those tunes.  

I should have recorded it, but didn’t.  Though I did have the video camera with me.   I hope this was just the first of many recitals.   I am not sure if I hope it leads him to a sold out stage with swarming girls but I do hope it takes him where he wants to go with it.