Winter Violin Recital

Getting to watch the kids play at their recitals is so great. It takes a lot of confidence to get on a stage in front of people and play. Teagan being the gregarious little guy that he is loves every minute of it. Arowyn can get a little worried right before she has to go up, but once she starts walking up front all just seems to melt away. It's like taking that first step towards the stage is the hardest but once she's done that she puts her mind to it nothing is going to stop her. I don't always appreciate this characteristic about my daughter because when our views diverge on what she should be doing it's no easy task to get her to listen or comply. But when it comes to things like this I think it's great that that characteristic allows her to overcome any fear or doubt she may be having of being in front of people on stage. And when she's done playing and she walks back to me she has such a big smile on her face it always makes me smile. Between all of the recitals that the kids have for violin, dance, & ballet they have plenty of opportunities to work on being in front of people both in a group and on their own. The ability to be in front of people and act, play, or speak is something I never learned to do with confidence but I hope they will continue to master this skill as it is something that will serve them in so many ways later on in life.

 Everyone lined up to get their violin tuned

 Teagan talking to the piano accompanist 

 Teagan helping me calibrate my cameras 

light settings before the performance

 Teagan in resting position and looking handsome

 Teagan bowing

 Teagan Playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 

Variation A

 Arowyn Playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Variation A

 Arowyn bowing

 Everyone playing through the 

Twinkle Variations together

 Mrs. Kubin's Violin Students

 I couldn't pick which one of these I liked better 

because Teagan was being a such a goof in both of them

Karen with her students

Winter Violin Recital Rehearsal

Tonight the kids got to practice their recital pieces on stage before their recital tomorrow. When they're not on the stage playing they're sitting with their classmates chatting and having fun. What a great group of kids they are. Part of the time Arowyn manned my camera and took some pictures of her classmates on stage as well.

Arowyn Taking Pictures

 Teagan and his teacher

 Teagan Playing

 Arowyn Playing

 Arowyn concentrating on 

her fingers while playing

 Everyone playing

 Arowyn glancing at her teacher to 

make sure she's in sync

Teagan trying to look see who's watching 

him and still play at the same time

Christmas Dance Recital

The kids had a lot of fun at their Christmas Dance recital tonight. They did a fun jazz dance in "Christmas Party", they joined another class and were tapping toy soldiers in "Santa's Workshop", did some ballet in "Behold That Star" and were also in the finale for a brief moment.  For once Teagan actually tried his best during the performance and did a great job. Which is a real progress for him because in the past three years of recitals even though he has the dances memorized which I know because he shows me them at home, for some reason though when he gets on stage his inner clown comes forth and we never know what he's going to do. Sometimes it's just the general pestering of his sister or the embellishing of his dance moves in a funny way or the infamous baseball slide across the stage in his white tux that he did one year. So fortunately this year we actually got to see some dancing instead.

 Arowyn as a toy soldier

Teagan the toy soldier 

Arowyn tapping

Rather than saluting it looks like Teagan is 

checking the state of his hair instead

 Teagan distracted by the lights or something 

that obviously only he can see

 Arowyn dancing with attitude in 

"The Christmas Party"

 Arowyn getting onto Teagan for 

something while they dance

 Arowyn dancing

 Teagan striking his pose

 Arowyn in "Behold That Star"

  Teagan in "Behold That Star"

Teagan & Arowyn in the finale

Christmas Dance Recital Rehearsal

Today is Arowyn & Teagan's Christmas Dance Recital. This morning the kids practiced their numbers up on stage so they would be more prepared for their performance tonight. It always amazes me how nonchalant my kids are about going on stage and performing. When I was growing up anytime I had to go on stage my stomach was always tied up in knots and I had to be coaxed or bullied into going up on stage for whatever I was doing and as I got older my fear of being onstage only increased. By the time I graduated high school going onstage for anything where there was any direct attention on me was out of the question and I even had a hard time standing in front of a class of like ten kids to teach. I've slowly been working on this fear of mine but I hope that it is one that Arowyn & Teagan never have to experience. Because of this I'm glad that Arowyn & Teagan have ample opportunity to be on stage in front of people and to get used to what that feels like and that it's not something to be afraid of.

Arowyn waiting out in the cafateria 

Teagan waiting out in the cafateria 

Arowyn & Teagan onstage practicing 

 Arowyn dancing

Christmas Piano Recital

Both Arowyn & Teagan were very excited to play in their first Christmas piano recital today. Arowyn picked out her song and has been practicing it for the past three months.  She wanted to play in this recital so bad because she wasn't far enough along to be able to learn a Christmas song in time for last year's Christmas recital so she's been putting in a lot of extra hard work on it this year. Since Arowyn got to pick out a new dress for the recital Teagan was ready to switch up his look as well for this performance. So we went to Teresa's Bridal and formal shop to let him pick out a new vest and bow tie (his choice he wanted to look like Dr. Who) to go with his suit for today, and he did a good job because he looked quite dashing in his suit today if I may say so myself.

2011 Fall Piano Recital

Arowyn & Teagan performed in their piano studios piano recital today. Arowyn played “Autumn Leaves” & “The Schumanns” and Teagan played “Autumn Night” & “Jumbo.” They both astound me with the confidence they have when they are up on stage. I never had that kind of self-confidence when I was their age in fact I still don’t. 

Arowyn playing 

 Teagan playing

Teagan can't help but give a wave to the ladies 

on his way back to sit down