Julia's Piano Recital 2: I'm Still Standing

 

Julia's First Piano Recital

Well, Julia, you've been taking lessons via Facetime with Miss Amy for more than a year (thanks, Covid!)

And with masks on you finally got to meet her in person as well as your duet partner (Frankie from school!) in person for a few dress rehearsals.

The big day finally arrived, and you dressed the part in a pink cardigan, white dress, and your 'orphan boots.'

And you played "Heart and Souls" with Frankie!

And then, your solo piece, "Fur Elise."

You may have been nervous, but it didn't show! You rocked it!

We were so proud of you!

Coronavirus School of Rock! (Nobody said it was easy)

Piano Brain and Piano Man

You two kiddos have loved playing the keyboards at our house and the piano at Mimi and Pops' house for a long time. You love the different whacky keyboard noises, built in tunes, and the drum buttons. 

You both have shown a lot of interest in figuring out some songs as well. Julia, you even figured out "Ode to Joy" and pretty much taught it to yourself!

So, we were super excited- and you both were ALSO super excited- to actually start taking piano LESSONS this year!

Your teacher is named "Tyler" and she is "so cool!" She wants you guys to start by learning what you want to learn.

So, Aidan, in your first lesson you wanted to learn "Deck the Halls" (which follows, because you have ALWAYS loved Christmas music). You came home so excited to play it over and over again! In your next lesson, you asked to learn to play the "Snoopy Song"- so Tyler taught you to play "Linus and Lucy." You've been working really hard on playing your tunes with one hand (including a now classic "finger printing thumb roll") and committing them to memory! Tyler loves working with you and said that your enthusiasm and excitement at hearing the song you want to hear come out of your hands and the piano is joyful to watch!

Plus, as a reward after your lesson, you got to smash around on the drum synthesizers!

Julia, in your first lesson you told her you had learned "Ode to Joy" and you wanted to learn more- so you and she are working very hard on it. You are quickly getting the hang of playing with one had. You ALSO told her that you had written your own song- a short little ditty using the black keys. You had it nailed down tight and Tyler noted how good of a pattern it is, with a clock-work tempo. She asked you to play your song up top on the keys while she noodled around the bottom keys to play some notes that went along with it. You lost a little confidence, but with some prompting, quickly regained it.

Then Tyler asked YOU to noodle around in the bottom keys with your left hand while you played your song with your right hand. And. You. Were. DOING IT!

Tyler asked me if you'd ever had lessons before. You hadn't. She replied, "well, this girl's got piano brain!"

So, to Piano Man and Piano Brain, I say BRAVO and keep up the good work! I have so much fun practicing piano with you, and with you guys teaching ME piano too!

The Music Makers

Sunday morning. 

Pancakes made by Aidan, Julia, and Daddy were eaten and enjoyed by the aforementioned people and Mommy.

Breakfast is over.

The day is still new.

Out comes the piano. And the brother and sister begin some adorable, hilarious, music-making, booty-shaking merriment. 

The music was good; the laughter was unforgettably amazing. Such giddiness, such good friends, such a good start to a Sunday morning. 

May you two always find a way to make music together. 

Through lunch and beyond.

XMAS 2018- Family, Fun, Food, Freezing Weather, and Fun!

Your 2018 Holiday Break - and mine- was one for the record books! Molly, Rebekka, and Ross came to visit! Gigi, Pa, and the whole gang came to Dallas! Santa Claus came to our house! We had some cold-ish wintry weather, and lots of singing, and dancing, and fun!

We dumplinged and hung out with Molly and Mimi and Pops and Rebekka and Ross a LOT!

We even aquariumed with them!

Then we Christmas Eved with Yaya, Baba, and Uncle Joe, and Aunt Sham!

We baked cookies and left them out for Santa, along with carrots for his reindeer, and guess what?

On Christmas Morning, after you guys sweetly and very considerately stayed in bed with us until the sun was up, we found out that Santa delivered!

Your wishes and then some were granted!

And then we packed up for a Christmas Day Feast at Yaya and Baba's!

We had plenty more fun: We all went to see Coco together, and wrestled, and sewed, and read, and had PJ parties, and made tie-dye shirts, and made corn bread, and made a lot of sweet memories at this, the coldest -and greatest- time of year!

Ho Ho Ho!