Let's Play Music Recital - Miss Pink

 Last night it was Miss Pink's turn to shine.

She has also been involved in Let's Play Music this past year and has just ended her first year.  I can't believe how much she has learned in such a short time.  Mr. Blue and I were really surprised by how well she did during her recital.  (She has been pretty shy this past year!)

Photo courtesy of father-in-law

Before the recital she told me her plan:

"First I am going to hum the song, really loud.  Then I will start to sing the words quietly, then I will get loud and will do the actions too."

It was fun to watch her hum and then join in on the singing and actions.

Photo courtesy of father-in-law

 She played a piece on the bells with another student and she did so well.

She was right on beat the entire time!

I think I shed a tear or two watching her.

You know that feeling, when you know your child is really nervous to do something, but they go up and do it anyway, and do a totally awesome job doing it?  Yeah, I had that feeling.  Way to go Miss Pink!!

Miss T. has been an amazing teacher.

We are looking forward to two more years!!

Let's Play Music Recital - Mr. Orange

Mr. Orange is an official graduate of the Let's Play Music program.

I'll admit it, I was a proud mom tonight.

For their third year recital, the students compose and perform their own piece of music.

Mr. Orange wrote a piece called, "Mansion of Halloween."

He practiced his little heart out for the recital.  I asked him at one point if he was nervous and he said, "No."  Of course he wasn't nervous, what was I thinking?  He was super excited to get dressed up and perform.  As I watched him walk up to the piano I had a flash of the past three years while we have been involved in this program and I was amazed at how far he has come.  All of the before school practicing, song singing, late dinners have been worth it.

I had to smile as he started to play his song.  He was so confident and sure of himself.  So proud of the song that he had written by himself.  Just three years ago he was trying to keep time during his recital playing a simple song on a bell set.  Last year he was playing a song (with burnt fingers) with the other 4 kids in his class, and tonight, there he was, playing his own wonderful song.

He has grown up (but not too much!!).

Thank you Miss J (1st year) and Mrs. T (2nd & 3rd years) for helping Mr. Orange discover his love of music.

(Mr. Orange is not sure about private lessons.  He wants to see his friends each week still!!)

I am so proud of you Mr. Orange.  You are a wonderful pianist and I look forward to hearing more and more of your compositions and listening to your fingers "tickle the ivories" for years to come.

mr. orange's recital

Mr. Orange had his piano recital Thursday night.  I have to say that I had one of those  mom moments.  You know the one where you feel like a mother bird with her feathers poking out all over?  I feel like that sometimes when my kids do something that is just. plain. awesome!  Anyway, tonight I had all of my proud mama feathers poking out all over the place as I watched him perform.

This is a picture of his class.  They are singing a song about the music alphabet.

Mr. Orange and I have not been very stellar about practicing regularly (the first half of the year we did great, second half, not so much) and I was really surprised when he was able to play 4 out of his 6 songs without his music.  As the kids played, he was right on beat the whole time.

Proud Mama!

Doesn't he just look so handsome sitting there?

I could gobble him rrrrrrright up!!!

As a way to introduce classical music, the kids learn 2 puppet shows each semester to classical pieces.

It's a totally amazing way to teach children to enjoy classical music!

This just happened to be our favorite puppet show - it was about pirates.  AARGH!!!

An official graduate of Let's Play Music year two.
(you should check it out.  the program is pretty amazing!)
On to year three!
I am so proud of this boy!
PS - the third years compose their own piece of music at the end of the year to play at the recital.
I am looking forward to that!

Oh, and I should tell you that before we left I had turned on the iron so I could iron his shirt.  Mr. Orange walked into my bedroom and touched the iron.  He didn't say anything to me, just went into his bathroom and started to run his finger under the water.  I found him a few minutes later, and with tears in his eyes said, "I didn't know your iron was on and I touched it."  I looked at his finger (on his right hand, of course!!) and sure enough there was a blister straddling his joint.  Ugh!  He watered it until we left the house, then when we pulled up to the recital place he asked if we could say a prayer.  We said a prayer and headed inside.  He sat on my lap and I would rub his finger for a few minutes, then he would shake his hand for a few minutes, and we went back and forth until it was time for his class to perform.  He got up there and played every piece.  After the recital I asked how his finger was doing.  He said, "I got up there and took a deep breath like you told me.  Then we started to play and I just forgot that my finger was burned.  It was just like the prayer."

I am so grateful that Heavenly Father knew Mr. Orange needed a little extra help.  :)