Robby'sPianoLessons
佚名/Anonymous
Attheproddingofmyfriends,Iamwritingthisstory.MynameisMildredHondorf.IamaformerelementaryschoolmusicteacherfromDeMoines,Iowa.I』vealwayssupplementedmyincomebyteachingpianolessons-somethingI』vedoneforover30years.
OvertheyearsIfoundthatchildrenhavemanylevelsofmusicalability.I』veneverhadthepleasureofhavingaprotegethoughIhavetaughtsometalentedstudents.HoweverI』vealsohadmyshareofwhatIcall「musicallychallenged」pupils.
OnesuchstudentwasRobby.
Robbywas11yearsoldwhenhismother(asinglemom)droppedhimoffforhisfirstpianolesson.Ipreferthatstudents(especiallyboys!)beginatanearlierage,whichIexplainedtoRobby.ButRobbysaidthatithadalwaysbeenhismother』sdreamtohearhimplaythepiano.SoItookhimasastudent.
Well,RobbybeganwithhispianolessonsandfromthebeginningIthoughtitwasahopelessendeavor.AsmuchasRobbytried,helackedthesenseoftoneandbasicrhythmneededtoexcel.ButhedutifullyreviewedhisscalesandsomeelementarypiecesthatIrequireallmystudentstolearn.OverthemonthshetriedandtriedwhileIlistenedandcringedandtriedtoencouragehim.Attheendofeachweeklylessonhe』dalwayssay,mymom』sgoingtohearmeplaysomeday.Butitseemedhopeless.Hejustdidnothaveanyinbornability.IonlyknewhismotherfromadistanceasshedroppedRobbyofforwaitedinheragedcartopickhimup.Shealwayswavedandsmiledbutneverstoppedin.
ThenonedayRobbystoppedcomingtoourlessons.Ithoughtaboutcallinghimbutassumed,becauseofhislackofability,thathehaddecidedtopursuesomethingelse.Ialsowasgladthathestoppedcoming.Hewasabadadvertisementformyteaching!
SeveralweekslaterImailedtothestudent』shomesaflyerontheupcomingrecital.TomysurpriseRobby(whoreceivedaflyer)askedmeifhecouldbeintherecital.Itoldhimthattherecitalwasforcurrentpupilsandbecausehehaddroppedouthereallydidnotqualify.Hesaidthathismomhadbeensickandunabletotakehimtopianolessonsbuthewasstillpracticing.「MissHondorfI』vejustgottoplay!」heinsisted.
Idon』tknowwhatledmetoallowhimtoplayintherecital.Maybeitwashispersistenceormaybeitwassomethinginsideofmesayingthatitwouldbeallright.Thenightfortherecitalcame.Thehighschoolgymnasiumwaspackedwithparents,friendsandrelatives.IputRobbyuplastintheprogrambeforeIwastocomeupandthankallthestudentsandplayafinishingpiece.IthoughtthatanydamagehewoulddowouldcomeattheendoftheprogramandIcouldalwayssalvagehispoorperformancethroughmy「curtaincloser.」
Welltherecitalwentoffwithoutahitch.Thestudentshadbeenpracticinganditshowed.ThenRobbycameuponstage.Hisclotheswerewrinkledandhishairlookedlikehe』drunanegg-beaterthroughit.「Whydidn』thedressupliketheotherstudents?」Ithought.「Whydidn』thismotheratleastmakehimcombhishairforthisspecialnight?」
Robbypulledoutthepianobenchandhebegan.IwassurprisedwhenheannouncedthathehadchosenMozart』sConcerto#21inCMajor.
IwasnotpreparedforwhatIheardnext.Hisfingerswerelightonthekeys;theyevendancednimblyontheivories.Hewentfrompianissimotofortissimofromallegrotovirtuoso.HissuspendedchordsthatMozartdemandsweremagnificent!
NeverhadIheardMozartplayedsowellbypeoplehisage.Aftersixandahalfminutesheendedinagrandcrescendoandeveryonewasontheirfeetinwildapplause.