Piano Recital

Spring was an incredibly busy time.  I, and sometimes with the kids, was back and forth between Atlanta and Charlotte, wanting to spend as much time as I could with my sister and her family.  Jack was playing lacrosse on Saturday afternoons in addition to his soccer and, between bad weather and our trips out of town, he had missed more lacrosse practices than he had made.  Early in April, on the same Saturday as soccer games, a lacrosse practice, and Ella’s Girl Scout Father-Daughter dance, the kids also had their first piano recital.  They had worked hard practicing for the recital—Ella especially, who was one of the few kids at the recital to not even bring her books up to the piano—but we also didn’t want them to miss their other activities that day (since they’d already missed so many this spring), so we requested that they play early on in the recital and then we skee-daddled in a hurry to get Jack to his lacrosse practice.  It was all kind of whirlwind, but we’re very proud of their performances at their very first piano recital.  I have no pictures from that day, but felt like it was more important to record their performances. 

This year Ella also performed memorized songs at another venue.  The morning after my sister was first taken to the hospital, Ella performed for judges in a private setting (no parents allowed in the room either) two songs from memory (one was Softly Whisper played here).  She was evaluated for her skill, technique, and composure.  This event is called a festival and occurs throughout the country.  Jonathan remembers being evaluated in this way as a child, too.  After your performance you receive a rating—I’m not sure what all of the ratings are but I’m pretty sure there is a Good, Excellent, and Superior.  Ella received a Superior for her performance.  We’re so proud of her and hope that this outside reinforcement—she seems uncertain when we tell her what a lovely pianist she is—will encourage her to stick with it for many years to come. 

Congrats to both kids on their growth in their piano skills over the past year!  I was bursting with pride to see them up on stage performing their pieces.



Jack Piano Recital - This Is Not Jingle Bells from Tricia Williams on Vimeo.

Jack Piano Recital - Purple People Eater from Tricia Williams on Vimeo.

Ella Piano Recital - Softly Whisper from Tricia Williams on Vimeo.

Ella Piano Recital - Fur Elise from Tricia Williams on Vimeo.