I'm the impulsive type, as you might've suspected, and it's gotten me into more trouble throughout my life than is possible to relate in the short amount of time left; but it will come as no surprise that my impulsive nature has once again brought us to the brink of disaster.
Musically speaking.
Way back when - a month ago? - when it was announced that there would be a Christmas Workshop at the church, I volunteered our family to take part in the entertainment portion of the day's activities. The Christmas Workshop is a time when folks gather at the church to have a bake sale, make crafts (especially for the kiddies), and visit with each other. The entertainment portion of the day's activities is comprised of random people who get up on stage and do something to entertain the folks who are standing around stuffing their faces with bake-sale goods, or simply waiting for their crafts to dry. Some people sing, some people play a song on the piano or guitar, some people sing and play a song on the piano or guitar. Hopefully the same song. In the same key.
It wasn't supposed to be a knees-knocking, nerve-wracking kind of activity. Sure, the music takes place up on the stage, but it isn't like a real performance. It's more like singing a song in a mall, with people wandering around mostly not paying attention, but without the Muzak blaring from the ceiling speakers.
We practiced, too. Starting nearly a month before the event, we selected our music, we went over the tunes, we sang, we transposed.
Then Thanksgiving came along, and more work piled up, and the evenings got busy; and as the day rapidly approached, our preparedness was not where it needed to be.
Especially mine.
But then I'm never really prepared. Too much of a perfectionist. And I never get enough practice time. And I can't remember the words, so my eyes are glued to the lyrics in front of me. Makes for bad stage presence.
The kids did wonderfully, of course. Mary played her solo piece, Deb sang Noel with me, Adam did his solo piece, and then we all sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".
Of course, it all could've come out much worse. As we were going up on stage, Mary decided she didn't really want to perform. Ditto for Deborah. And since Mary was first on the program, we had to switch things around right off the bat. Until she changed her mind. Which she did. And then Deb changed her mind, and they were both back "on".
Perhaps it was due to Adam, who performed beautifully on his "Twelve Days of Christmas" (all verses). We all stood behind him as he played the piano, and we all sang, and we only occasionally got ahead of - or behind - each other. Adam's a real trooper when it comes to just Doing It. (It got us through the Boy Scouts' popcorn sales.)
I look forward to the day when we can all get up on stage and play and sing together again as a family. Now that we have three piano players, one clarinet player, and one guitarist, it should get very interesting!
After it was all over, we all breathed a sigh of relief and headed home.
2 comments:
so where is the video of the performance? What a mother wouldn't give for that?
Ah, but that was the beauty of the whole event. There was nothing taped, filmed, captured, or recorded, so that none of the performers were made to feel nervous. In fact, the best part of it (so far as I was concerned) was that we never got the feeling of being "watched", which allowed the girls to finally get over their stage fright and perform.
Had there been an official "audience", Deb would never be able to stand up on stage. She inherited her father's extreme fear of public performance (as did James).
I think Mary might've eventually done it anyway; she has only a slight discomfort, but that all goes away if she's dancing instead of singing or playing piano. That is her true joy - dancing. One of these days we're going to get her those lessons she wants.
And Adam? He plays on a moment's notice, unconcerned as to the presence or absence of an audience. He can get so focused that he truly doesn't notice.
What I wouldn't give for that kind of ability!
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