Yesterday's Piano Lesson

Thanks to my forearm soreness from trimming hedges last weekend, I didn't play much piano on Sunday, on Monday, or on Tuesday morning. I thought about canceling yesterday afternoon's lesson, but I decided to go through with it anyway ... and I'm so glad I did! Eric had wanted to hear "Bare Necessities," so I played it for him ... and he was impressed! I played him the Jonny May video so he could see the Bare Necessities master himself, and then we talked about how I might use dynamics and phrasing to put my own stamp on it.

It was a good lesson. I'm glad I decided to stick with the lessons, even though they are more like feedback sessions than actual lesson. But I honestly think feedback sessions are just what I need at this point.

At the end of the lesson, I asked Eric if he'd ever thought about having the piano store sponsor an amateur pianists' club. He said he'd brought up the idea to his adult students in the past, but that no one had ever been interested because they didn't want to have to perform. I said it didn't need to be a club where people had to perform if they didn't want to. It could be more of a social group -- we meet, have coffee or tea and snacks, and maybe a speaker does a short presentation/lecture, and then if a few people want to share what they're working on, they can.

I told him that if he ever wanted to start something like that, I would be on board. So maybe I planted a seed there.

After that, he asked me if I would be interested in participating in a masterclass this fall. A concert pianist will be in town performing with the Augusta Symphony, and they're trying to set up a masterclass with several students in the area. "What on earth would I play?" I asked, and he said, "The Chopin, of course."

Hm. I could do that. Even though the whole idea terrifies me. It would be a great opportunity, though. And who knows what other opportunities it might lead to?

I told him I would think about it and let him know by my next lesson, two weeks from now. I messaged Deborah to ask if she could help me get ready for the masterclass, and she said she would be happy to, even if it just means meeting a couple of times between now and late September.

So I think I'm going to do this. Even though I'll be the only middle-aged participant, and even though I'll be the only one who is essentially self-taught with regards to the piece I'll be performing. I just hope I don't make a fool of myself.

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