Pia pia piano…
(Suzy at a Piano recital: Glasgow, Scotland)
When Suzy told me she had a recital, this image is almost precisely what I had in mind; grand piano, beautiful dress, interior of a city centre chapel, wonderfully performed pieces. What I didn’t expect was the exuberance of her very entertaining teacher – seen here beside Suzy, playing a duet – and the hordes of other pianists in attendance. I must add at this point, although Suzy herself is a piano teacher, she also takes tuition from a teacher more able than she is. More to my surprise, the other pianists were all practically children, all at different stages of expertise. All of them were also students of Suzy’s teacher; the first to step up was a five year old boy who played two jerky lines of music before stepping down from the seat and giving a well rehearsed double bow to the audience – who until that point had not worked out if he had finished. He was very sweet, but he has a long road ahead of him in music.
I was impressed with the general standard of piano prowess during the recital (this boy included, because of his age) and although Suzy’s pieces were the crowning glory of the recital, there were several protégées ready to take up the reins in the near future. I managed to get this shot and a few others during her last piece – her legs weren’t shaking so much at this point and she had managed (stoically) not to vomit with nerves. I was extremely proud of her – especially after I learned that despite her obvious talent, this was the very first time she has played in public since she was twelve. I shall only reveal that she is slightly older than me. A long time.
Suzy’s teacher introduced every young pianist warmly and with much good humour. She was utterly delightful and I could imagine piano lessons with her would be less of a chore than mine felt when I was younger. One of the highlights of the day was at the close of the recital, she asked all her students to stand with her for photographs. “If anybody would like to take a photograph of any of the children at the piano, please come forward.” Suzy’s smile faded gently and she suddenly looked even more embarrassed than she already was at being the eldest one onstage. I winced for her in the audience, knowing that this experience was too much of a trail for her to cope with me laughing out loud – it was very funny though.
– Today Rosie is meeting her Gran for lunch and attending a ceilidh in the evening –
