Everything's Coming Up Roses

My fear-conquering music gig hasn't really panned out. Why, you ask? Well, the guitar-playing friend has been a little, shall we say, unreliable. That is, I have suspicions that he may not be a guitar player at all. He might be a hit man. Or a spy. Or in fact, Superman. I haven't actually seen inside the guitar case. It might be a cover.

IF he makes an appearance at the time and place he said he would, he tends to disappear without a word or a trace at some point before the night is over. Last time my friend Irena saw him she pulled him aside and intimated, "We just want you to know, that we KNOW..." She reported that he looked worried.

However, while my cafe-singing dream may be temporarily postponed, I had an inspiring music moment of a different sort. A week after we held our Spring Recital for all the children, we held a Musicale evening for our adult students. Lisa and I both teach only one adult student each, so decided to host an informal gathering over wine and appetizers where they could play for each other. Both students invited their husbands and their parents came as well!

Lisa and I arrived early to decorate our sweet little studio space with flowers and candles. It was beautiful! We had just enough space to get everyone into the little room, and with the night falling outside the enormous window over the leafy trees, and the candles twinkling all around the room--on the piano, on the fireplace, windowsills, etc--, it was such a warm ambiance.

Both students played well, and then Lisa and I took our turn. Lisa played a gorgeous Nocturne by Chopin and I played and sang a little Italian art song. It was so much fun to be in such an intimate space, having community and sharing music! After listening to Lisa's rendition of the Chopin, I have a renewed appreciation for classical piano music. I've started learning a few new pieces, and I haven't seriously undertaken any new pieces since I was taking lessons in college!

I can't wait until we organize the next Musicale, and I hope to do them regularly. I'm feeling nostalgic about Gram's memories of her dad on the cello, her mom on the piano, and the neighbors coming over in the evenings to play and enjoy music together. Oh life, before we had so many mind-numbing things to grab at our attention!

I invited Mom and Dad to play too on the next one since they are both doing an independent study. We'll see if I can convince them...