I didn't stop at the Central Market. We finished up at 5 and I needed to get home in order to drive to N Dallas to see Batboy, a musical that one of my favorite teens is appearing in.
Our kids did so well and I am so proud. Ten of them have advanced to the State finals in Austin. Our show choir earned a 1 (top rating) and let me tell you, that was GOOD.
Most show choirs use CDs as their accompaniment-- sort of like group karaoke.
My director hates tapes. He refuses to use them, so that means I get to play for them. Somehow a piano doesn't really compete with a whole orchestra, complete with strings and drums. And when we took the stage, we discovered that they hadn't anticipated anyone being dumb enough to use a live accompaniment, and hadn't bothered to put the grand piano on the stage, figuring everyone would be using the sound system. There was just an old upright sitting there, obviously a reject from the competition rooms. And NO lights on the piano. I kid you not. Pitch black. And when I went to sit down, the top fell off the piano bench. It wasn't attached. I had to decide whether to sit IN the piano bench, or sit immobile as I played because if I moved, I would sail off with the unattached top. I opted to use the top because it was so damn dark I was barely sitting anyway. I was leaning forward one inch from the music, trying to see the notes in the dark. That we began and ended at the same time was a miracle; that we got a 1 was a gift. Perhaps a gift springing from guilt. Or maybe the judge was tired of karaoke. Who knows.
Live performance is a kick.
ANd I haven't even told you about the bubble gum someone put on the piano bench in our solo competition room. |
