Day 106: Relax and Enjoy the Music

Just got home from my concert.  It went well!  It was a small, but very appreciative crowd.  My students who came were engaged and seemed to have fun.  I think I will stay with this format.  I love seeing young people enjoy classical music!

It was more than just a concert for me. It was a get together of people who mean a lot to me. And what is so nice about these events is now these people are connected to other friends, family and students in my life.

My mother put together strawberry shortcake and lemonade. We even had gluten free poundcake for the gluten sensitive. I tried one and it was quite good.

I did break my no eating after 7:00 p.m. rule tonight. I decided that it is ok on "special occasions".  Especially since my daughter, who works part time as a bartender promised me one of her famous bloody mary's when we got home.

My daughter and son were both there.  It was so nice to see friends and students and be able to introduce them to my adult children. My daughter had some really nice positive feedback for me. And my heart was warmed when my son told me he wished the concert had been longer. He said he did not like classical music when he was young, but now he finds it really "relaxes his brain". He told me that a big improvement for my concerts would be to install recliner chairs for the audience, so they could recline, close their eyes and let the music relax their whole body!

On top of that, one of my little 9 year-old male students came up to me after the concert and said, "Teacher Zita, my favorite piece was the Janecek!"  

I hope to do one or two of these each year. I liked my daughter's suggestion of speaking a bit more on each composition and talking about the composers while perhaps shortening the playing a bit.  I guess she found 15 minute Mozart sonata a bit long. (My son, however said he wished I had played a longer Mozart! lol This from a young man who listened to mostly rap and hip hop for the last 13 years.  Score!)

I was thrilled to see my high school friend Cindy and her son Daylin, who know towers over me. He is 16 and sings in a choir.  They took pictures which I hope to post.  Cindy is my inspiration for going gluten free. 

Also my friends Susan from Salem came up. She is the lady that I used to do bible study with.  She is also my inspiration for walking. She and a group of women have been hiking all over Salem this summer and posting wonderful pictures.  Susan sat with Rachel, who lives right around the corner from me and is who I am currently studying the bible with. 

My adult student Rich and his wife also drove up from Salem. They just returned from a European trip. I have been salivating over the pictures.  Especially the ones from Abbey at Mont St. Michel. I found this picture from the "Discover France" blog (http://blog.holidayfrancedirect.co.uk/2012/06/all-in-a-bays-walk-guided-trails-around-mont-st-michel/)

One of my life long dreams is to travel. I would love to tour the monasteries and cathedrals of Europe. Sigh.

Now that this concert is over with, I am looking forward to some down time. Specifically nice long walks on the trail.  I hope the forest fire smoke has diminished enough. Yesterday there was so much smoke in the air, my throat and lungs felt like they were on fire.

I have a feeling that I will have a bit of a post concert depression. My daughter told me that I must have a very poor memory. Because the last concert I did I worried that noone would come.  Got really nervous right before the concert. But then as I played and talked and interacted with the audience, I relaxed and afterwards I said the exact same thing I said tonight! Something to the effect of:  It was a small crowd, but they all seem to enjoy the concert, especially the kids! I think I will continue doing these."  LOL

So, next time I need to just tell myself that the last concerts were successful just the way they were.  No need to stress.  Just enjoy the music!

Happy Sunday! :)