Day 27 - A Magical Evening

Francis Street Singers Concert, June 07, 2015

Ok, I am actually writing this on Day 28. Yesterday was a very busy day.  But it ended up being a very good day!

I started the day with a 2 mile walk with my daughter Taylor and her dog Honey. Honey is a German Shorthair Pointer mix that Taylor and her husband Mike recently adopted. She is two years old. A very sweet dog. Her original owner had crate trained her. She responds to many vocal commands.  Love this dog!  But she has a lot of energy. Needs to walk six miles a day!  Well, she is fitting right in around here! Only problem is she tugs on the leash quite a bit when we walk. She is friendly to other humans and dogs, just gets overly exuberant.

So Taylor and I had a nice walk and talk amidst her exclamations, "No, Honey. Heel!" lol

But it was an extraordinary day on the trail.  We saw a mother duck cross our path, just several feet ahead, leading her little ducklings into the swamp.  We saw two baby rabbits leaping playfully just inches from our feet. Then we saw what look like a miniature grouse and her tiny, tiny babies.  Couldn't get close enough to them.

I love having this glimpse of wildlife in the city!

After our walk, I got all all dressed up for the concert I was playing in the evening.  The Community Music Center was holding it's 60th Anniversary celebration at Reed College.  I teach group piano at the Community Music Center. I have been there for over 16 years - I always lose track.

Taylor and I went out for a lunch. We both had salads.  I had only fruits, vegetables, cheese and a bit of meat and water.  Feeling very healthy!

The celebration at Reed was glorious!  It was so nice to see so many familiar faces of musicians, students and parents that I have either met, taught or performed with over the years.  The Performing Arts Center at Reed is a newer, modern building. The lecture room where my students performed was cozy and air-conditioned. (It got up into the 90's yesterday!).


My students performed really well. It was a surreal moment for me, watching these kids perform with such confidence and FEELING!  To hear a student put emotion into music is like a fulfillment of all I've ever believed.  To play with feeling. So intangible and not easy to teach. But like magic when it happens!  And yesterday was magic.

After my students played, I had several hours to kill. So I visited with some folks. And I found a piano.  I practiced.  Sweat was pouring off of me.  I felt like I had just run the trail!

But as I practiced, my confidence grew.  And I felt calm.

That evening I accompanied the Francis Street Singers.  We performed 11 Gypsy Songs by Brahms, The Road Not Taken by Randall Thompson (using the words from a Robert Frost poem) and How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place from the Brahms Requiem.

Our director could only use one arm to conduct. His other arm was in a sling. Broken.

But there was magic in the air. I played with feeling. The choir responded.  Tracey had a light in his eyes. The audience applauded thunderously.

A very magically musical evening.

I need to hold this in my heart and keep practicing.  Until sweat runs down. And feel the magic!!