Pretty Pianistas

Here's Gracie showing off her technique — and her beautiful hands — at a recital right after she participated in Federation of Music Teachers judging. It was very rigorous this year, and she did a great job overcoming her nervousness and showing how well she knows her two pieces. She ended up getting an "Excellent" rating, which was one level below the highest, "Superior," rating. She was disappointed at first, but the judges gave her some really good constructive suggestions, mainly on overcoming some of her nervous "tics" and movements, and we're going to work on them. She handled the news with the kindness, emotional maturity and, well, GRACE, that I have come to respect and love so much in her. As for me, I know my shy girl did her best and bravest and is only going to get better from here.


Gracie takes a bow. She did a beautiful job on her pieces at this recital — the pressure was off!


Junie performs her Federation pieces at the recital. In the past few months her skills and her love of the piano have blossomed amazingly. She loves practicing and perfecting her assigned work, and I practically never have to remind her to practice — she just does it, because it's her idea of fun! She got very generous comments from her Federation judges and ended up getting the highest, "Superior," rating. She did great!


Junie takes a well-deserved bow at the recital and shows off the cute daisy in her hair!


Em displays her skills at the recital. She is a very relaxed, emotional player and really seems to "feel" the music. She got great marks from the judges for her expressive playing and her dynamics. She freaked out a little during judging because she's picked up the habit, from band practice, of tapping her right foot on the ground while she plays. Well, the Federation piano, a beautiful grand, was on a raised wooden dias that was hollow — so every foot tap sounded like BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Despite the, um, percussion accompaniment, she did beautifully on both of her pieces and ended up with a "Superior" rating. That means she's garnered enough points in her first three years of participating in Federation judging to earn a "Gold Cup" award, which is — you guessed it! — a gold cup. She also gets to play in a Gold Cup Concert tomorrow night, two days after playing in a Monster Concert for band! (more on that next week!)


Em takes a bow — dig the fabulous skull-and-crossbones-printed footless tights!