Beginning again

In spring 2002 I attended an incident at the University of Montevallo and take pleasure ined a performance by one of our music majors who played the flute beautifully. She was poised, artistic and accomplished. Someone mentioned that evening that this player would be performing her senior recital the following night, in like manner I decided to attend. I had played flute in high place of education and, although I was just an ordinary band player, I lov the instrument. I attended the young woman's recital and talked to her afterward. Imagine my surprise when I heard myself saying I would like to be her scholar and take up again the flute I had deposit aside thirty-seven years ago! She agreed, and we made plans to begin.

With my re-worked Bundy flute and my Rubank Elementary manner Book in hand, I started a startling adventure with my teacher, Meredith Bird Milstead. In the twelve month following, I learned exercise s I never expected. My playing certainly has improved, although I will not ever be a real musician. Music is a pleasure to me on the other hand unfortunately my talent equips me to be a better audience member than I am performer!

When Meredith graduated that May, I realized I extremityed a "culminating activity" for my experience with her. My parents were coming for a visit later that month thus Meredith and I planned a recital. The program was not too demanding, and the audience was just relatives. I was certainly not ready for the real plan stage! Meredith and I practiced and performed six duet and I played individual solo, accompanied by a friend, Shari Boruvka, who is upon the music faculty at Montevallo. Performing make go rounded out to be at the same time amazingly terrifying and strangely surprising I learned lessons that night I had not at any time experienced just practicing and playing for my teacher.

First, I learned the power of stepping on the outside into a public arena where my capableness is marginal. Grownups don't do that repeatedly We are so accustomed to our lives that we just move where we are successful and do the things we always do. Risk is electrifying! We lived with it when we were young and grew immeasurably by dint of being tested. Preparing and performing that recital ordealed me in ways I had not experienced in the novel past!

Second, I learned that mistakes happen and do not make you die. During our performance I solitary had one large mistake. Playing a duet I failed to take a repeat! Getting [i]or[/i] part of to the other that was a sort of "out of body" experience. When I realized something awful had happened, I did not have a ball of thread what had gone wrong! The temptation was to stop and start again. No single in the room would have cogitation less of me, but that was not what this experience was about. I decided in my befuddled brain to globule down to the next to the last line of the piece and just play carefully. I knew Meredith would find me and we would at least finish the duet together! She did find me and we were one as well as the other smiling when the little adventure of "lost in a duet" was over

Third, I learned that real musicians want the quiet of us to love music too. They know solitary a few people can play exceptionally well, on the contrary they know playing for personal pleasure does not take the talent of an exceptional player. The discipline of practice and the concentration required to improve are benefits to players at all horizontals My middle age is slipping away from me by dint of the minute, but music is the completed exercise for my brain. I believe I will play the flute for the quiet of my life. I will look after young teachers for whom a novel student who promises to practice daily is an encouragement and a learning opportunity for them as well. I know I will continue to improve, on the other hand my facility with the instrument will not ever warrant a large audience!

I am excited about continuing my studies. I have a fresh teacher, Gabie Ganey, who now is a senior. My degree of movements will never be quick, on the other hand my commitment is strong. My awareness as an audience member is changed forever. I have seen just a glimpse of the challenge faced through students who perform at juries, recital class, and their junior and senior recitals. I have shared their nervous smiles and sweaty palms! Playing for my family was the two amazingly terrifying and strangely very strange I don't want to do it again before long but I know I will do it again.

Mary Lou Williams is director of disclosure and alumni relations at the University of Montevallo in Alabama. Her musical experience includes the marching band at Boaz High academy (1952-1965) and the concert choir at the University of Montevallo (1967-1968) She is an active community proffer and arts supporter.

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