Piano Recital

Tuesday night our boys had their spring piano recital. This is the first year for all three boys to take piano lessons and it was a treat. It was also nerve wracking due to the fact that all three of them had been sick with upper-respiratory illnesses or asthma flare ups so all three were coughing a lot. I was quite nervous about the whole thing-them coughing their way through their performance did not sound like a good time to me. But God was gracious and none of them coughed one time while they were playing. However, they did cough the entire time before and after their performances. ha! I am sure the other students appreciated that. :-)

When the boys were little, I never dreamed they would one day take piano lessons. That was not really in my plan for them. But one day when Jorden was either in Kindergarten or 1st grade he began to talk about wanting to take lessons. When my parents found out they graciously offered us their piano-the same one I took lessons on as a child. When Jorden was in the 2nd grade he began his lessons with Karen Blankenship. She does a fantastic job with her students.

I took lessons when I was in elementary and Jr. high-I won't say how many years. But let's just say, I wasn't cut out for it musically. It just wasn't there I guess. I wish I had stuck with it and really learned how to play. I can pick out songs at a very elementary level, but the main thing that held me back I think was my fear of playing in front of other people. I could never get up the nerve to play at church or for anyone other than my family (when they were in another room of course) or my piano teachers. So I am amazed every time my boys get up to play at church, school, competitions, recitals, or family gatherings. They do not seem bothered by an audience at all. I am so glad!!

As I said before, I never dreamed my boys would go down this particular path. After Jorden began taking lessons, he seemed to really pick it up quickly. (at least much quicker than I did!) When he entered 4th grade (his third year of piano) he was then able to attend state competition and won 2nd place his first year! I was again amazed! Taylor was in the 2nd grade that year and he announced that he too wanted to take piano lessons. This middle child of ours was always extremely shy. He would cry and hide behind Jorden during plays or programs at church. It was heartbreaking to watch him. He hated being up front when he was little! So I was quite surprised when he announced his desire to take piano lessons. We made sure he understood he would have to get up at church several times a year (a requirement to win a trophy from Mrs. Blankenship) and play at the recital in the spring. He said he was okay with that. And he was!! He gets this cute little grin on his face and struts right up front when it is his time to play and does a great job. He has picked up piano really quickly as well and again I am amazed. Then comes Jacob our baby. Of course he wants to do everything his brothers do, so this year when he started 2nd grade we signed him up for piano lessons also. He really enjoys playing more than the other two. He gets so excited with each new thing he learns. He can't wait to play some of the songs his brothers have played. He is doing really well learning to play also.

We get a lot of questions about them playing sports. They don't...not because we have a problem with sports. Just that our school doesn't have a sports program. They have regular physical education class where they play different sports-kick ball, volley ball, basket ball and in Jr. High/High School they will also be able to play softball. Jeff and I just didn't want to get into that whole "tee-ball" scene with practice 1-2 times a week and a game every Saturday. We are extremely busy as it is with other commitments, and don't want to tie ourselves into that kind of schedule. Also, I don't care for a lot of the attitudes I have witnessed from both parents and coaches alike at some of those events. Anyway, when people ask me if they play ball, I always reply "no, but they take piano lessons." You should see the funny looks we get. Many have implied that boys shouldn't take piano lessons. That it is too "sissy" for boys. Well, I don't agree. My boys are all boy! They love to wrestle with each other and their daddy, ride their bikes, play backyard football, or baseball or basketball in the driveway as much as the next boy. They are also involved in Cub Scouts. I don't think playing the piano makes them any less of a "boy". God has given all three of them a musical talent and we are trying to nurture it and expand it. We have told them all along that they can switch to another instrument any time, but that we wanted them to have a foundation in piano first. I love to think how God will be able to use them in the future. They will be a real blessing in some church some day.

Well, I guess that is enough of my soapbox for now. :-)

I hope you enjoy the pictures below from their recitals. I also have posted clips of their performances. Our good friends, Joseph and Christy Hedstrom caught them on their camera and shared it with us. I am so appreciative!

From Jorden's expression, you can see he was needing to cough really bad!! ha!

This is the boys with their teacher-Karen Blankenship

Jacob was so proud of his trophy! This was his first recital!

This was Taylor's 3rd recital.

This was Jorden's fifth recital. He has grown so much!

All of Mrs. Blankenship's piano students plus Jac Crawford, her voice student. He won first place at state competition this year and was able to compete at National Competition-at Bob Jones University.

And now....their performances!!

Jacob-"Get Away"

Taylor-"Circus March"

Jorden-Brethren We Have Met to Worship

Taylor's Encore-Jericho (competition piece) I had no idea

he was going to play again!

Jorden's Encore-Beethoven's Fifth (competition piece)

again-total surprise on my part!