The Trouble With Saying Yes

You might remember, back in the day when I had multiple boys at home, who warbled their way around the house and in various other places, I did a lot of accompanying for them and for others. However, the warblers have all left the nest and their voice teacher changed jobs and is now teaching choir at the local middle school.

So, I haven't played much in the past couple of years except for Sundays in Primary (the children's section of church). Now, I love being in Primary. The kids are great and the music is fun, but not very challenging. So the voice teacher called me a couple of weeks ago and said they were having an Honor Clinic at the middle school where she teaches and wouldn't I just like to get a workout for my hands in? An Honor Clinic is when all the middle schools and jr. highs in the area send a few select students to one location for a day, to work with an out-of-the-area clinician and then they present a concert that night. The clinician picks 4 songs for them to sing and we spend the entire school day practicing them and preparing for this concert. Enter me, who will sit at the piano all day pounding out parts and then perform with them at the concert. 

Now to the point of today's post. The trouble with saying yes to this project is that I am rusty, and a couple of the pieces really move along....and did I mention that I'm rusty and haven't played challenging music for a couple of years? And now I'm sweating it and wondering why the heck I said yes. This is such a double-edged sword for me. I want to keep my skills at a decent level, but not doing this type of work for a while makes it a really scary proposition, and the question is....Do I really need to spend my time being scared? Do I just let the skill go to waste? You see my problem here?

So by the time most of you read this, I'll be sitting at one piano bench or another, struggling through a Haydn that is written in 2 and a couple of technically challenging spirituals and one nice legato feel-good piece. Wish me luck....and don't tell me what my mother did yesterday when I was whining to her about it. "You know, you could sit down a practice for an hour every day and then you wouldn't be in such a panic when you do stuff like this." Yes, I COULD, but I probably WON'T.

Comments

[Little Sis]

Really, WHY would you practice for an hour every day? Who has time for that? You will be great!

[Elisa (aka your favorite son's wife)]

LOL, I'm sure you're going to knock em dead, Mama! Don't sweat any mistakes bc you and the conductor are probably the only ones who will even notice them. You're an inspiration! I hope you have fun!

[andrea]

That sounds so fun! What a challenge. They wouldn't have asked you if they didn't think you could do it. I wish I had time to practice every day. And a real piano. And that I had your primary calling- that's my DREAM. I do however get to sub lots, and I love it. Good luck. Can't wait to hear how it went.

[Pam]

You will be great!! Moms always right! Practice makes perfect, or something like that.

[JulieP]

you already know what I think...LOL!!!

[Joyce]

Moms - aren't they great? LOL - best of luck. May your fingers have not have forgotten their way!

[Margaret]

I'm sure you were awesome!