Our 2017 Spring Piano Recital

Saturday, May 20, dawned sunny and bright, and I got up early to get to the auditorium at the Bothell Music & Arts Building to get everything set up for our noon recital.  I invited my performing students to arrive around 11 a.m. so they could have a chance to try out the baby grand piano they would be performing on, and also to take advantage of the many different pianos in the various practice rooms.

We set up the room for 60 attendees, and by 11:45 a.m., everything looked ready--food out on the tables, programs and program notes were stacked by the door, students were busy practicing all over the building on 8 pianos, and guests started arriving.  Then guests kept on arriving.  By the time we began our recital at 12:05 p.m., there was standing room only!  Over 75 people found us that day.

Pranav, a 10-year-old student, kicked off the program with his piece, which went well.  And thus it began. It is so thrilling for a teacher to watch 16 of her students perform either for the first time, or the second, or third time.  So much happens in one year.  Lives are changed when one learns something new.  Playing the piano can change your life.

The hour from noon to 1 p.m. that day was an experience none of us will forget.  We were filled with amazement, pride, and the joy of seeing someone find great pleasure in learning how to play the piano.  It fills their life with something that is hard to explain.  It changes everything.

Many weeks later, that day still lives in my mind.  I am so grateful to be the teacher sitting on that second piano bench, watching new musicians find their joy and share it with others.