For every tear of frustration I cried last week, I cried two tears of joy this last weekend.
It was more amazing than ever. It was an overbooked weekend in May. Just like old times.
We kicked it off with Thursday night's jazz ensemble concert in the Eastview PAC. My kids make fun of me because I call it the P-A-C. I guess you're supposed to say "PAC." Whatever. It's a place where you bring an extra sweater and lots of tissues, so that you can watch high school kids pour out their souls into whatever it is they are currently performing. Mary had a solo, I really liked it! Bill is a good improvisation coach. The band was great. Afterwards, one of the band directors referred to Mary as resilient. I can't think of a higher compliment. I only cried just a little bit. Well, it's all relative, maybe I cried a lot. The last time we heard jazz there it was Calvin behind the drum set. Time did march on while we zoomed along.
Saturday night. . .back to the PAC to watch the Bravo show, that was prerecorded, on the big screen. This is Eastview's big production, it's their vocal, instrumental and dance showcase each year. The full length video was completely 1000% amazing. The directors are creative musical geniuses. Instead of wallowing in everything they couldn't do, they made a show that was over the top, literally, they hired a drone to film some acts. They filmed it all over the school and the stadium and the grounds. Mary's jazz ensemble accompanied the show and they filmed a lot of those kids too. I cried through the first act even before they paid tribute to last year's seniors who lost their show to covid lockdown, and then they paid tribute to this year's seniors. This is not my sentimental first rodeo, but blowing your nose while choking back sobs is a little more challenging with a mask on. These are not even my kids graduating. Pathetic. Happy pathetic. I have never been more grateful for and proud of our school.
Sunday! My studio recital! The first time we were all together since May of 2019. We got a hall, followed the rules and the kids got to shine on the 9' Steinway under the lights. Every family was there. There were flowers and treat bags and stickers! My heart was so full. These families. These kids. This music.
The program notes that the students each wrote said over and over, "this piece is fun to play.. . . this piece makes me happy. . I like this piece because it made me a better piano player." I learned how to practice preparing this piece.
This is why we sing. Why we keep showing up. We are all resilient. Each and everyone of us in our own way.
Music is the great healer, the great unifier, the ultimate voice of peace and love and harmony. Our children are the lifeblood of it. They kept the pulse going and now we got a May weekend filled with music more amazing than ever.
Congrats to Eastview Performing Arts, and congrats to every student and family in the Kotrba Piano Studio. Happy 20th anniversary.
Sara
