Piano Recital Day
Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 09:09PM 
I've not been ignoring my blog on purpose, but clearly I've been less than ambitious about posting. It's not for lack of want, but rather the self-imposed schedule of events that consume my life lately. Some of these events are quite worthwhile and important while others, not so much. In either case, too many events result in a lack of blogging time. My apologies.
Today was a big day for our family and one that comes but once a year - piano recital day. I wish I could say that our kids love playing the piano, but alas, I can not tell a lie. Piano is one of those things, like making their beds, that we require them to do. It definitely falls into the "chore" category, but I'm confidant and hopeful that someday they will thank us for the "chore" of making them play.
We've been blessed with a wonderful piano teacher, a strong Christian lady with extremely high standards and expectations, who is both kind and bluntly honest in her feedback. She comes to our home every week and gives each of our kids a private, 30 minute lesson, expecting that they will practice every day until she comes again. To entice them to practice every day, she gives them stickers for the times they play each piece perfectly and for every piece they memorize. Then, on recital day, she passes out elaborate trophies to those individual kids who excel in their practice by memorizing and playing with perfection. The ones with the most stickers win. Each year, the Pettit kids leave empty handed. Well, that's not totally true. Their teacher has consolation medals, which she passes out to all the kids who won't be getting a trophy. The slackers.
This year, as we were racing to the recital after church, Colton kept saying, "I really want to get a trophy this time." Realizing that this was a teachable moment, I patiently reminded him that the kids who get the trophies actually practice every day.
"Remember honey, when you and your brother were playing sock hockey in the house this morning before church and I suggested that you practice for the recital, instead? And remember when I remind you to practice during the week and you give it two minutes, but call it twenty? The kids who get the trophies are the ones who put in the real time and effort."
"But hockey is funner than piano," he argues, with perfect second grade logic.
I see his point and am just grateful that his teacher has not yet banned our kids from the recital. To make up for their lack of practice, I make sure they look like a million bucks. This takes much effort and I could write a different blog about shopping for recital clothes, another "chore" the kids enjoy.
We screeched to a stop in front of the church. Late, the kids jumped out of the car and ran in with their music while we parked. At each recital, all the recital kids sit in one section of the church in the order they are playing while the parents sit on the other side. The youngest kids sit in the second row and so it goes back to the final performer - the creme de la creme of piano students. Directly in front of the tiniest recital participants, Colton included, our teacher lays out her elaborate trophy display on the front pew of the church.
I notice, as Colton sits down, he is on the very front edge of his seat leaning over to see the shiny trophies right in front of him. I mention to my mom how very badly he wants a trophy while explaining that I'm sure it won't be happening. We both realize disappointment looms.
Each one of our kids played beautifully and each made it look effortless, like they actually practiced every day and enjoyed it. As the final student finished his lengthy and complicated piece, their teacher stood up front and talked about the enormous effort that the children put into their piano. I realize, she is not talking about our kids, but I pretend that she is. As she is speaking, Colton is fixated on the shiny trophies laid out before him, ready to jump up at the mention of his name. Slowly, she introduces each student by telling the audience how many pieces each winner has memorized. "And this student has memorized 354 pieces this year." Followed quickly by, "This student has only been playing for six months and has managed perfection on 210 songs." And so it went.
I'm pretty sure that Colton's biggest disappointment was not that he left without a trophy, but rather watching the little boy who sat next to him leave with two. As we walked out and I hugged each of them, I asked Colton if he was sad that he did not get a trophy.
"Yes! I wanted one!" He shouted as we walked over to thank their teacher.
As each of the kids hugged their teacher following the recital, she complimented the two who practiced the most and did the best. "You did it, perfection!" To the other two, she said, "You looked nice." She's must be on to me.
As we made our way out to the car, I decided to try the teachable moment thing again with Colton. "You do understand, honey, that the little boy next to you probably practices for 30 minutes every day and that's how he is able to memorize so many songs. If you practice more starting tomorrow, you could leave with a trophy next year," I tell him, hoping to use this moment of raw disappointment as a catalyst for change.
"No, I've already thought about it. I'd rather play hockey," he tells me and runs off, looking spiffy while happily wearing his shiny new slacker's medal. 
Reader Comments (2)
Piano Tutorial
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