Neighborhood Christmas Recital 2014

This is my favorite recital of the year.  And look how our numbers have grown! We held our 4th annual Neighborhood Christmas Recital at the McKay's home this year. Four years ago I think we only had 6 performers.  This year we had 16!

It was a fabulous night with good friends, good food, and fabulous music.

Eliza and Naomi played "Jingle Bells" on their violins.  Even though I forgot Lydia's stuffed violin (she cried all the way home) and the jingle bells for accompaniment, these two best friends did a great job. Eliza looks a little lost there in the middle, but there's no doubt she at least ends on the right note!  So cute.  I will cherish this video.

Eliza also played "Twinkle Twinkle (Bethlehem) Star" and "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" on the piano.  She has such poise! 

Brigham played "Prelude No. 8" by Bach and "Do You Hear What I Hear?"

Isaac played "Cradle Song" by Weber and "Joy to the World".

Clayton played "Song of the Lark" by Tchaikovsky (one of my favorite pieces to date), "Prelude No. 9" by Bach, and "Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem" in the style of Bach.  I love it!

And finally captured on film. . . Jessica, Whitni and I playing "Silent Night".  We always play in church so this is our first recorded performance together.  There isn't anything better than making music with friends.

I didn't get a picture of the little girls playing the violin but I did capture their mesmerized expressions watching Camilla play her violin.

Best part of all?  Dessert.  We had a perfect team of helpers behind the counter serving up refreshments.

Brigham, who was allergic to everything on the dessert table, entertained himself (and us all) with more stand-up performances on the piano.  He's like a piano magnet - he can't be kept away.

Congratulations to everyone for a night of wonderful performances!  This is the best way to end the year.

December Piano Recital

We added another Smith to the piano recital program this year - Eliza!  We keep shocking all the other families by showing up with more kids every time.  They kind of thought I was overdoing it when I came with the three boys.  And since Nate always stayed home with the girls during the recitals, most people had no idea we had even more kids back at home.  This was our first entire Smith family appearance at a recital and not only did we make up half the program, we were also a show and spectacle of our own - just by being there.

Eliza was so cute.  She was so excited to perform for everyone she could not be contained.  When Ms. Asya announced her name, she bounced off her chair with a little "yay!"and then skipped-stepped all the way up to the piano.  She played beautifully.

Eliza played a Russian Folk Song and she even remembered all her drop-fix-rolls.

Brigham played Prelude No. 8 by Bach and Wild Rider by Schumann.

Isaac played Cradle Song by Weber.

Clayton played Sonata in C Major by Mozart and Prelude No. 9 by Bach.  My camera malfunctioned and I thought I was recording when I wasn't so I actually only got the last half of the Mozart. Clayton was nice enough to play them again at home for me - even though our piano will never even compare to the Steinway at the recital hall).  Still, I love listening to Clayton play anywhere.

Congratulations on a job well done!  So much work goes into this.  My appreciation for music well played - and the time and practicing it takes - never stops growing.

Ms. Asya, though very intense, is incredibly patient and kind.  She expects even her youngest students to play more than just the notes, but to play with musical expressions, phrasing, dynamics, and precise technique.

Piano Recital 2014

 It's recital time again!  This is the payoff for all that practicing. . . practicing. . . practicing! These boys did a wonderful job last night and I am so proud of them (and myself) for keeping up with their busy lives.  Whew. . .it's a lot of work!

Here's Brigham playing "Teasing Song" by Bartok and "Musette" by Bach.  He's still just as fun to watch - especially when his teacher has to roll up his suit sleeves so his fingers can find the piano.  He was so into his book, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, that he hardly noticed when his name was called.  He sat up in surprise.  Marched up to play. And when he was done, as if he'd just had a minor interruption, plopped back down with his book until the recital was over.  The kid doesn't have a nervous bone in his body.

Isaac played "Minute in G Major" by Bach.  He pulled it off even though this piece was pretty difficult for him (it's Bach!).  His advice to an audience member afterwards on preparing for a piano recital is my favorite, "Here's how you get ready for a recital. First you learn all the notes at home.  Then you go to piano lessons and learn the technique and how to play it musically.  Then when you go the recital it's best to forget playing musically, forget the technique, just concentrate on playing the notes! Otherwise you might forget them. That's what I do."
He cut, glued, and colored about 800 Star Wars origami puppets during the recital.  All from his front row seat under the nose of his piano teacher.  That's quite an accomplishment.

Clayton played one of my favorite piano pieces, "Prelude in C minor" by Bach.  He makes it sound easier than it really is. (I can't even play the first two measures).  Clayton played it flawlessly.  He also played "Etude" by Kabalevsky.  Which starts like it's in the middle of a high speed chase and just gets faster from there.  The song is about a thousand notes and lasts about 30 seconds. Whew!  Go Clayton!  Next week he and Brigham will compete in the National Piano Guild Competition playing almost a dozen pieces each.  I am stressed!

All three boys received gold medals on the state music theory exam this year - and all with perfect scores.  I'm a proud momma.

But the best part of the recital is always the refreshments! 

This was Eliza's first time at a recital.  She was very wiggly and couldn't wait for it to be over.  Thank goodness for brownies or I might not ever convince this girl to take music lessons.

Congratulations on a job well done, boys!  You fill our home with wonderful and inspiring music!

Spring Recital

We made it through another piano recital.  The boys were excited to perform in a new concert hall with a Steinway grand.  Thank you Ms. Asya for dedicating your life and your heart to music - and for teaching and inspiring us to love it as well.

Here is Isaac playing "Christmas Day Secret" by T. Dutton and "Allegro" by Suzuki.  I was most nervous about Isaac who, as of the morning of the recital, still could not play his pieces without note mistakes.  He wowed us all though with his nearly flawless performance. Watch especially Isaac's perfect piano hands - just want you to know that hours and hours of grueling practice went into that. Way to go, kiddo!

Brigham played, "The Happy Farmer" by Robert Schumann and "Minuet in G minor" by J.S. Bach.  Brigham owns it on the piano.  But I tell ya, no matter how many times I tuck in his shirt, that kid still ends up on stage with an untucked shirt, disheveled hair, and a crooked tie.  Asya has her students warm-up on the piano beforehand.  Parents are not allowed in during warm-ups.  I had a moment of panic when I walked into the concert hall at the beginning of the recital and I couldn't find Brigham.  My eyes scanned the rows of seated students waiting to begin and I didn't see him.  I started asking different people, "Have you seen Brigham?"  Finally a group of giggling girls caught my attention and pointed under the bench.  There was Brigham on the floor playing with some plastic gumball machine robots he'd stuffed in his pockets - completely oblivious that there was a even recital going on.  Love this kid.  At the end of the video I try to give him thumbs up as he passes by the camera - he nods with a very serious expression.  It's my favorite part.

I wasn't worried about Clayton at all.  He glides through his piano pieces (he's polishing 10 right now for the National Piano Guild Competition tomorrow!) during practicing and can play them flawlessly.  But he botched his second piece here.  Only slightly (he fumbled three notes) and he quickly recovered and made it through to the end, but it was momentarily frustrating for him. (I saved him some pain here - after all, this is the internet - and spliced out the second where he grabs his hair in frustration).  Luckily he's got a personality that just rolls with it, and he was fine immediately after.  Hey, it happens to the best of us.  Here he is performing "Vivace" by Kuhlau (fabulous job!) and "Little Waltz" by Gurlitt.

 

I love this picture of all the kids lined up to receive their awards.  Notice Brigham.

All three boys received GOLD medals on their state theory exams - Brigham and Isaac both with perfect scores.

They all got trophies and certificates.

And the best part of all?  Refreshments!

(just please no more carrots through the mail drop, guys.)

What a great recital.  Now onto the next big thing - the National Piano Guild Competition tomorrow morning.  Clayton and Brigham are both competing with 10 pieces and 6 scales each!  Wish them luck.

End of Year Piano Recitals

The boys performed in two piano recitals in December (One very formal recital and one we put on ourselves with friends from the neighborhood).  Practicing always seems to be the first thing to hit the back-burner in December which is funny because December is the month of programs, concerts, and performing!  But practiced or not, here they are. . . filling the season with music.

Let the concert begin!

I love Brigham at the piano - his un-tucked shirt and loose tie, his dangling feet and wild disheveled hair.  But music is in this kids bones and it's so darn fun to watch him play.

Here is the video of Brigham playing Ecossaise by Hummel, A Short Story by Lichner, Minuet in G Major by Bach, and Carol of the Bells (he has to stand to reach the pedal).

Here is Isaac looking so distinguished - so tall and seeming more and more grown-up.  Notice the progression of Eliza's attentiveness in the background as the recital moves along. . .

Isaac played Chant Arabe, Allegretto II by Czerny, and O Christmas Tree (with Nate singing in German).

Clayton's turn.  Don't worry about Eliza.  She's already heard these songs plenty of times.

Clayton played Wild Rider by Schumann, Prelude by Bach, and his own composition, Song of Peace, which was recently published in the Piano Explorer.

Love this. . .

Lydia enjoyed the stairs and getting her diaper changed in the middle of the recital. 

And all the kids enjoyed the brownies and ice cream afterwards. 

Good job to all these great performers!  What talent we have among us!

Not to be outdone by the boys. . . here is a recent video clip of the girls musical performance.   It was Eliza's turn for Family Night Musical Number.  She chose to sing "I am Like a Star" (again).  She sings, "I can do and say everything each day. No wonder Heavenly Father loves me." yes, no wonder.  You will see Lydia (in her first days of zombie-walking) enter the room and realize that her sister is having the spotlight all to herself - this cannot be! She falls, then quickly backs herself on all fours onto center-stage and stands up triumphantly next to Eliza.  Everyone cheers.  I cannot even tell you how many times we have laughed ourselves silly watching this video clip.  These girls are so cute.

Enjoy!

Composer Clay

Back in April we got a very excited phone call from Clayton's piano teacher telling us that one of his compositions (one she had submitted several months earlier) had been published in the Piano Explorer - an international piano magazine.  She also told me (years earlier) to get a subscription to the magazine which I never did.  So I quickly got on the phone, ordered a subscription, and begged them to send me the previous month's issue.  Which they did.  Clayton was pumped.  He showed his music teacher at school who had him play it for the entire 3rd grade and all the office staff.  Good job, Clayton!

Nate's mom gave us a little piano keyboard from Costco to take with us to Chicago just after we were married.  We tinkered around with it for a couple years in Chicago but it's pretty much been boxed up for the last 9 years.  Just recently we had the idea to set it up in Clayton's room just to see what would happen.  And do you know what happens?  Amazing things.  That's what.

Here he is playing his newest composition called "Song of Peace" - his longest written piece so far. Watch out Jon Schmidt!

 (please disregard all the background noise - I tried.  really I did.)

He hated that, written out, the whole thing was just two measures too long to fit on three pages.  So he drew a picture to fill the rest of the space.  I love it.

We love your music (and your artwork) Clay!

Keep it comin!

Another Piano Recital

Piano recitals have always been a culminating event for us - something we practice for, look forward to (Ha!), and plan around.  But this one - in the middle of baseball playoffs, swim team practice (2 hrs daily), pack meetings, birthday parties (Brigham is 6!  Pictures coming soon), and end-of-school projects, field trips, and exams - the piano recital just seemed to happen to us whether we liked it or not.  But despite our running-around life the last little while and our hit and miss practicing, the boys were spectacular (if a little unpolished).  My video skills, on the other hand, were not spectacular - sorry.

Brigham played Musette (that almost got nixed from the program because he played it "stomping like a troll" at his lesson. . . then super-speed silly. . . then exaggerated slow again - and grumpy. . . all accompanied by ten minute interludes where he refused to play at all.  His teacher was beside herself.  It took some begging (from me) two days before the recital to get the piece back on the program.  So when you see how beautifully he plays Musette on this video, you can thank me) and Allegretto II by Czerny. He played like a champ - even when his teacher adjusted the piano bench (piled high with cushions) in the middle of his performance. Good job Brigham!

Isaac played Little Playmates by Chwatal and a simplified version of Haydn's Surprise Symphony (where I make my own recital debut playing the duet part). He did a great job and loved playing with his mama!  He also loved reading his (smuggled in) comic books and making paper airplanes (and faces at Clayton) during the other performances.  Isaac has finally decided that he likes piano recitals.  Go Isaac!

Clayton played Sonatina (Mvt. 1) and Romance (Mvt. 2) in G Major by Beethoven.  Clayton really enjoys playing now and I love watching and listening to him.  He has a piano competition on Thursday where he will play ten memorized pieces in front of judges.  I am amazed that with so much going on in the last few months, he even had time to learn ten pieces.  Way to go Clayton!

At the end of the recital all the children were presented with certificates and trophies - the best part!  Clayton and Isaac also received medals for their scores on the national music theory exam. Then they lined up for a group picture.  When the photographer asked Isaac to move to the front, Isaac said, "I don't go in front.  I'm not a beginner."  to which the photographer replied.  "No, it's because you're small."  To which Isaac responded with this look: (thanks to Jess for taking this close-up.  you're right, it is blog-worthy!)

 Congratulations Clayton, Isaac, and Brig on another piano recital. . .

may there be many many many more!!!

A Little Christmas Music

It just wouldn't be Christmas without music. Every year I love pulling out my old Amy Grant and Tabernacle Choir Christmas CD's. I listen to them non-stop. And I can't think of anything I enjoy more than the sounds of Christmas. This year we had lots - with our usual line-up of Christmas programs, caroling, and concerts in addition to our constant singing (mostly "Sleigh Ride" at the top of our lungs) around the house and plunking out Christmas tunes on the piano. Here are a few musical moments captured on film:

Our family performing "Jingle Bells" at the Ward Christmas Party:
This took a lot of arm twisting from the head party planner to get us to do this. In fact, I finally gave in so late in the game that we didn't even get listed on the program. But Isaac's comment afterward made our unpolished moment in the spotlight all worth it. "I loved doing that! I loved when all those people were clapping for me!" Thank goodness for fun-loving, easy-to-please audiences! The Ward Christmas Party never lets me down!


Eliza singing "Gloria" and "Jingle Bells" - her two favorites:
Eliza sings all day long. But it's rare to catch her singing something not made up. And she'll never sing on demand. So this little clip is a real treat.


Clayton (piano) and my (only) violin student, Daphne performing "Joy to the World" at the Ward Christmas Party:
You can barely see Clayton behind the piano. He's wearing a three-kings crown and that's about all you can see. These two did a good job staying together with very little (practically none) practicing.


Brig performing his famous "Dock the Halls":
I never get tired of this song . . . and neither does HE!


Clayton-robot playing "Carol of the Bells":
He sounds like a house elf to me. But then again, I can't imagine Dobby ever playing "Carol of the Bells" quite so well.


Enjoy!

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Piano Recital: Take Three

Brigham performed in his first piano recital last night. He played Deck the Halls (or "dock the halls" as he calls it). And he performed it by his own choice and. . . sheer will. A month ago the piano teacher sat down with Brigham to decide on a recital piece. She named a few lovely classical songs. "Um." he said, pushing out his bottom lip. "I think I'm gonna play Dock the Halls" (a piece not suggested and definitely not assigned by his Jewish teacher.)
"Let's hear French Children's Song" she said, ignoring Brigham's comment.
He played Deck the Halls instead in outright defiance. (while I watched in disbelief).
"Well. . . what about Lightly Row?" maintaining her strict composure.
Again, Deck the Halls. This time louder.
There was a long pause. . . and finally a sigh.
"Look, Brigham." she said pursing her lips. "I have a suggestion. How about we work on Deck the Halls? Did you bring your notes?"
And that is the story of how Brigham won. And how he got to perform Deck the Halls - the only Christmas song on the entire program.

But he did a great job. And everyone (I think) appreciated his festive contribution.


Isaac played "Swan Lake" by Tchaikovsky. A friend who knows Isaac really well from school and church commented that she'd never seen Isaac act so serious. (I think she half expected him to perform the chicken dance. . . opera-style. Which wouldn't have been out of the ordinary for him). But he responded, "Hey, I can be serious when it's called for." (if only I could convince him that it's "called for" in Primary.)
He played beautifully.


Clayton played "Happy Farmer" by Robert Schumann and "Minuet in G" by Bach. (the Bach is my favorite. I never get tired of hearing it.) Clayton is so enjoyable to listen to these days. And he loves playing. Which I love.


The best part of every recital is always the refreshments. This recital was especially fun with our good friends.
Nate and I are so proud of our three piano boys. Good job, Clayton, Isaac, and Brigham.

See? All that practicing paid off!

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