Last night was our congregation's talent show for the primary kids. I've been looking forward to this for a while. Not just because I had two students in it, who did great on "Goody Goody Stop Stop" (despite a microphone that kept getting in the way of her bow, which unfortunately I didn't have a chance to do anything about before she started playing) and "Happy Farmer". I love to go and watch all the kids, both the ones sharing talents and the ones "watching".
The whole experience could be summed up in my comment to my invalid husband upon my return: "It was fun, but I don't remember it being that chaotic last year." I was promptly informed that I must have a bad memory.
I sat in the front row with the family of one of my students. He's performed several times now, so I wasn't worried about him. But my other student has only been playing for a few months, and this was her first performance. So I wanted to be there up front, just in case. Plus, then I could check their strings right before their turn.
Anyway, I sat in the front row, so I had a great view of all those star singers, pianists, violinists, guitarists, dancers, makers of funny faces, soccer players, karate enthusiasts, and jokesters. But sitting front and center also meant I was in the thick of all the little ones (and parents with cameras) who came up to sit on the floor to watch the show. Now that was entertainment.
One of Linus's former students played "Day Tripper" on his guitar (which he did fabulously and very earnestly, by the way). He has a little brother who is in Linus's 2-year-old nursery class. His mother came and sat on the floor next to me with the 2-year-old in her lap and a camera in hand; his father was behind her with a video camera. At one point while mom was taking a picture, the 2-year-old took his chance and escaped. In no time, he was at the microphone and gave us his talent for words (what words I don't know, but they were nice and loud). Somehow our guitarist paid no heed and kept on playing with great poise as the little ones laughed away before mom could get the 2-year-old back in the confinement of her lap.
Another favorite moment of mine was when a notoriously bossy 5-year-old little girl grabbed a little boy from her class during a boogie-woogie piano number and said, "Come on, let's dance!" And then she proceeded to push and pull him around like she was trying to teach a sack of flour how to swing. That didn't last long. The little boy, who looked very confused, had had enough of it within 30 seconds, and went running to where his mom and dad were seated.
After intermission, I took the baby of some friends back to my seat with me. (Ok, I like the babies, and this one is especially sweet and easy-going. But I'll say I did it so that her parents could take pictures and pay better attention to their three children who were going to perform in the second half.) Anyway, I found out that this sweetheart is quite popular with all the little kids who were seated up front. I think some of them paid more attention to her than to the show at times. This nine-month-old spent the whole time in my lap quietly playing with a very colorful little purse that belonged to one of her older sisters. She didn't seem to notice when her oldest and very refined sister played the piano. She didn't even seem to notice when her other sister did a tap dance. But when her four-year-old brother got up to do a demonstration of his soccer skills, she gave him her full attention, which was more than any of the other children in the audience did for anyone. That was impressive. Her mother has commented before on the special bond between those two; it was fun to see it in action.
Stomping and running and giggling, and the kicking and screaming of children being removed by strained parents. I'm glad I have an excuse to go to the talent show each year; it's a fun and incredibly entertaining chaos when you're not responsible for anyone causing it.
The whole experience could be summed up in my comment to my invalid husband upon my return: "It was fun, but I don't remember it being that chaotic last year." I was promptly informed that I must have a bad memory.
I sat in the front row with the family of one of my students. He's performed several times now, so I wasn't worried about him. But my other student has only been playing for a few months, and this was her first performance. So I wanted to be there up front, just in case. Plus, then I could check their strings right before their turn.
Anyway, I sat in the front row, so I had a great view of all those star singers, pianists, violinists, guitarists, dancers, makers of funny faces, soccer players, karate enthusiasts, and jokesters. But sitting front and center also meant I was in the thick of all the little ones (and parents with cameras) who came up to sit on the floor to watch the show. Now that was entertainment.
One of Linus's former students played "Day Tripper" on his guitar (which he did fabulously and very earnestly, by the way). He has a little brother who is in Linus's 2-year-old nursery class. His mother came and sat on the floor next to me with the 2-year-old in her lap and a camera in hand; his father was behind her with a video camera. At one point while mom was taking a picture, the 2-year-old took his chance and escaped. In no time, he was at the microphone and gave us his talent for words (what words I don't know, but they were nice and loud). Somehow our guitarist paid no heed and kept on playing with great poise as the little ones laughed away before mom could get the 2-year-old back in the confinement of her lap.
Another favorite moment of mine was when a notoriously bossy 5-year-old little girl grabbed a little boy from her class during a boogie-woogie piano number and said, "Come on, let's dance!" And then she proceeded to push and pull him around like she was trying to teach a sack of flour how to swing. That didn't last long. The little boy, who looked very confused, had had enough of it within 30 seconds, and went running to where his mom and dad were seated.
After intermission, I took the baby of some friends back to my seat with me. (Ok, I like the babies, and this one is especially sweet and easy-going. But I'll say I did it so that her parents could take pictures and pay better attention to their three children who were going to perform in the second half.) Anyway, I found out that this sweetheart is quite popular with all the little kids who were seated up front. I think some of them paid more attention to her than to the show at times. This nine-month-old spent the whole time in my lap quietly playing with a very colorful little purse that belonged to one of her older sisters. She didn't seem to notice when her oldest and very refined sister played the piano. She didn't even seem to notice when her other sister did a tap dance. But when her four-year-old brother got up to do a demonstration of his soccer skills, she gave him her full attention, which was more than any of the other children in the audience did for anyone. That was impressive. Her mother has commented before on the special bond between those two; it was fun to see it in action.
Stomping and running and giggling, and the kicking and screaming of children being removed by strained parents. I'm glad I have an excuse to go to the talent show each year; it's a fun and incredibly entertaining chaos when you're not responsible for anyone causing it.
4 comments:
Sounds like fun!
I love how kids perform for each other. I love how they have to do some silly walk as they walk to the front of the room when they volunteer in Primary. I also love how they interact with each other.
We're having a Primary talent show next week. Having read your post, I think I'll view the whole experience a little differently. Besides, I'll be responsible for restraining four. I'll have to report on the experience. I wish we had you here for more Goody Goody Stop Stop!
Sounds like everyone had a great time. How did your violinists do? Mutti
They did great! I'm very proud of them. So proud I'm making them play again in a recital in a few weeks.
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