I didn't think I'd be performing solo today.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (207218)
Walnut Creek, California
April 27, 2024 6:58pm CST
I had fun with my students this morning. My 9-year-old piano student was a "pill," and wanted to bang on the drums and talk about neurons, rather than play piano. I gave in and talked axons and dendrites with him (yes, he's one of those boys who is slightly what we used to call Asperger's). Finally he gave in and we got some piano playing done. He has already made it through the "sharp scales" and is working on the "flat scales now."
My 8-year-old piano student showed me her "composition" today, which she had forgotten to bring to our last few lessons. I had "transcribed" it for her. We played it together and then wrote a harmony part for her left hand. That's her "challenge" for this week: play both hands together. Yes, I got my big smile and a hug.
Heh. I have an innocent teenage boy who wants to learn Hendrix. We've been working on it for about three lessons. I told him, "It's OK to have a bit of attitude. And Hendrix had attitude in his playing." I'll write about him another time.
Between lessons, the "Lessons Assistant Lead" told me that Guitar Center was having an Open Mic today in the early afternoon. I had no clue. Of course I said yes when he asked if I wanted to play.
There were only about ten people in the audience, and I did two early John Prine songs. I chose not to use a microphone or guitar amplification. The songs I did were Christmas in Prison and Paradise. It went well, and I got to introduce the music of John Prine to a small group of Californians, most of whom do not know his music.
I'll attach Bonnie Raitt's version of Prine's Angel From Montgomery. It was her success with this song that really put John Prine on the map outside of the Midwest. If you give it a listen, I hope you enjoy it. It's interesting in that it's written from the perspective of a woman. But it's written by a man.
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12 people like this
10 responses
@kaylachan (58646)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Apr
Sounds like a good day at work. I bet the open mic was fun.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (58646)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Apr
@TheHorse That's what's important here.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (207218)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Apr
@kaylachan I think the audience enjoyed it too. I am in my comfort zone when performing John Prine songs.
1 person likes this
@almostoveryou (4249)
• Philippines
28 Apr
You and your kids are so cute. You have fun together. I met a boy with Asperger's many years ago and was astounded by his talent in piano playing. If you flip the piano piece upside down, he still would read the notes and play the piece. He's very smart in all his school subjects too. He and his family have since migrated to the U.S. I'm sure he's doing well there too.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (207218)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Apr
I hope he is having fun and fully experiencing relationships as well. Today's friend, Benji, and I are quite attached, even when he is being a poop head. But he makes eye contact with me, jokes with me, and plays piano with me. And then of course there are the discussions about nerve cells, synaptic gaps, and neurotransmitters.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (207218)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 May
@almostoveryou Sometimes I wonder if I don't have an "Asperger's" streak in me.
@celticeagle (159754)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Apr
Music sure has a lot of layers to it. Do you know John Hiatt and Tom Waits? I like their music.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (157969)
• United States
28 Apr
I'm glad you took part in the Open Mic session. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157969)
• United States
29 Apr
@TheHorse Thanks. Just spread the word that people should adopt a pet from a shelter. lololol Have a good week.
@RasmaSandra (73950)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Apr
That is a great song, Glad you have eager music students. The very first piano piece I learned to play was Yesterday by The Beatles. That was after I struggled with the classic pieces my piano teacher provided and one day discovered the sheet music section in a music store,
@thedevilinme (3932)
• Northampton, England
28 Apr
I bet you get all School of Rock and show them how its done