I feel like I'm just recovering from all of the recitals I've been involved in recently. As many of you know, I teach at two different music stores that are approximately 50 miles apart. I serve two different communities and their surrounding areas. I didn't exactly plan it that way. Actually my career is truly a monument to very poor planning, but that's a topic for a different day.
A week ago, this past Saturday, I presented my Lansing students in their Spring Recital. Historically I've presented this recital (and a corresponding Fall Recital) on a week night, but I thought perhaps a Saturday recital would be more convenient for the families. I was wrong. It's common to have 15-20 performers in a recital but this time there were only 10. There were far more schedule conflicts than I anticipated.
The students played great, of course. They almost always do. I still seem to hold my breath for the entire performance out of concern. (As if that would actually help somehow)
I've been presenting these recitals for over 35 years and I still get the jitters before hand. I'm always worried that I'm not setting it up correctly, or that I'm forgetting something. Somehow it comes out OK.....mostly. A few years ago I started to live stream the performances. Many of my students have family and friends scattered around the country and even around the world. I often hear from people thanking me for this. Now they can attend, after a fashion, too. However, this time the video came out sideways. You have to lay on your side to watch it comfortably. I'm blaming it on my advanced years and the fact that old people and technology rarely produce good results. Btw - If you care to watch, the video is still posted on Facebook.com/RogerHumphreyClassicalGuitar Make yourself comfortable first.
The following day on Sunday was the Spring Recital for the other store. This store is a very small operation so we do one recital for all the students. Although this is not my recital alone and is actually presented by the owner, we all pitch in to help. My concern is that my students not only play well, but can hold their own with the piano, violin, and 'cello students. They did.
This recital will be the last for this store as the owner is retiring and closing the store for good. So there was an emotional element to it as well.
Then three days later on Wednesday morning I was a guest artist at a Spring Concert presented by Lansing Matinee Musicale, an amateur adult women's choir. I don't often perform in a concert or recital setting any more so I had to prepare like crazy for several weeks. Even then there were a couple of moments that were cringe worthy. But there were many other times that the music was beautiful and I was reminded of why I began doing this many years ago.
My wife teases me because I'm such a slave to my routines. In my defense, my routines are like tools that I use to function. Without them I would feel adrift. But for a few days my schedule went off the rails. Nothing serious, but still a bit of a shock to my nervous system. Sorta like having spaghetti on "Taco Tuesday". It won't kill you but it still ain't right.