Music To My Ears

Several weeks ago I mentioned that one of my daughters asked me to play the piano as her accompanist as she played a  flute solo, auditioning for the All State Band. The audition took place this past Saturday, and was a first for both of us - it was her first ever audition, and it was my first public performance that actually required a reasonable degree of perfection since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

The piece itself was a 4 movement flute sonata by Handel; a level six solo. For anyone unfamiliar with grade levels of musical solos, level six is the highest level, the hardest music possible. And, as if the music wasn’t hard enough by itself without the disadvantages of PD,  some musical gremlins decided to sit in on the show just for kicks.

When we entered the room and introduced ourselves, the first thing the judge did was look directly at me and tell me to “play as softly as possible” because the piano was not a very good one and seemed to play very loud, making it difficult to hear the person who was actually playing for the grade. I smiled at the judge and agreed to play as softly as I could.

Upon receiving my instructions, I sat at the piano…almost. The competition was taking place in a high school class room, and for whatever reason, a standard piano bench was unavailable so I had to sit in a chair from one of the student desks. Now, I am a tall man, and let me tell you this…when I sat in that chair I sat so low that I almost knocked a couple of teeth out with my knees. I asked the judge if it was possible to get a regular bench because I was sitting way too low to play properly.

“That’s what the book’s for,” she replied, pointing to a text book perched on top of the piano.

You have got to be kidding me. Not wanting to upset things I politely took the book off of the piano and placed it on the chair. That probably would have worked for most people, but I am definitely not most people. Not only was I too tall for the chair, but I was also too wide for the chair, and too make matters worse, the book that was supposed to elevate me to the correct height was even smaller width wise than the chair, leaving me perched like a fool wobbling from side to side.

Then I actually played a few chords to warm up. The judge was right, the piano was loud, even with the una corda (soft pedal) pressed all the way down. Normally, to compensate for the loudness all I would have to do is make sure I don’t hit the keys so hard with my fingers. Nice thought in theory, but not only was the piano loud, the action was also stiff, meaning I had to hit the keys fairly hard to get any sound at all out of the instrument.

That should have been enough to keep the gremlins happy for quite a while. That is it would have if we didn’t play so well. Despite all the odds, the first movement went off without a hitch, and my daughter played wonderfully. “Bring it on, gremlins,” I thought to myself as the first movement ended.

Word of advice…never challenge the gremlins. Not only do they not like to lose, but they hate being heckled.

Movement number two started great. It also ended great, despite further attempts at mayhem by my unwelcome, invisible guests as a slight breeze came in through the open window causing the music to fall off the piano.  I smiled too myself as I managed to catch the book with my left hand while my right hand continued to play without losing a beat.

Stupid gremlins! I wasn’t born yesterday…

Apparently neither were they. By the end of the final movement I was having all I could do to stay seated as the text book began to slide off the chair, taking me along with it.  Recovering from that wasn’t as easy, and unfortunately I hit a few very strange and unique notes, losing my place along the way. Thankfully, my daughter kept her wits, professionally playing on as if nothing was wrong and I was able to catch up with her within a few measures. As the saying goes - “All’s well that ends well.”

Take that you stupid gremlins.
She received her performance grade and critique today. She didn’t receive the 98% required to make the All State Band, but she did receive a 91% out of a possible 100%. Absolutely awesome for the difficulty of the piece, and considering it was her first attempt the grade was outstanding. If she decides to compete again next year, we will blow them all out of the water, assuming she still wants me to play for her and I am still able to do so, that is. If not, hey…she’ll still blow them out of the water.

If I never get the chance to play again, I can still say it was all worth it just because of the hug I got when everything was said and done - and that, you stupid gremlins, is something no one can take away from me.

©2008 Day By Day Adventures Of The PD Warrior. All Rights Reserved.

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