Piano

Kids had their first piano recital with their new teacher. He has a PhD in piano. It is a good thing we don't have a car payment anymore or we couldn't afford him. Actually, I still don't know if we can. The kids practice a lot and Nathaniel is starting to play in seminary. Sarah played her recital piece for her choir class yesterday.
I asked her if they were impressed and she said, "Mom, I am in junior high."
Well, that is true.
The recital took place in a large narrow room of a basement. It was so loud my ears hurt for a long time after we left.
That piano was taking a beating!
I kept thinking, "Why so loud? We're right here! A crescendo! I get it!"
I'm wearing cotton or something in my ears next time.
There was this one woman who played incredibly and I told Nathaniel as soon as he could play her song we would let him quit. He said she has been self-teaching for the last 13 years or something and that she only recently starting taking lessons with his piano teacher because she was "stuck." Wow. I'd get stuck after 13 days--maybe 13 minutes?

Nathaniel was telling me the other day how he gets through his week-- Monday is Monday. Tuesday is the day before, the day before, the day before Friday. Wednesday is the day before the day before Friday. Thursday is the day before Friday and Friday is freedom.
Do you know what else Friday is? The only afternoon our teacher teaches piano in Springville. Also the only days for recitals and "performance classes"--where students practice playing in front of other students.
Nathaniel and Sarah are not impressed with this schedule and they frequently try to get me to agree not to make them go. It never works. I mean gosh, what else do teens have to do on Friday nights anyway, right?
What they don't get is that we hope we are making an investment in their future. Why else would I want to pay more money than I like to think about, only to listen to the complaining about the lessons, then get someone to watch John so I can sit at a recital where I think I can actually feel my eardrums vibrating? Not to mention the times I get to listen to the same song over and over and over and over as they practice for the recital. Do they think I do this for my own sick pleasure? Come on! Really?!
Don't get me wrong, we love to hear them play the piano. There are always hymns playing in the background in this house and we are really hoping they will be able to take that talent they've developed and use it in their lives in church, or as a missionary, or just in their homes for whatever.
Do you think our kids will ever really appreciate the things we try to do for them?
Let's just say I'm not feeling the love right now.