I found that children have many levels of musical ability. I've never had the pleasure of having a protege though I have taught some talented
students. However I've also had my share of what I call "musicically challenged" pupils. One such student was Robby. Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson.
I prefer that students (especially boys!) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano. So I took him as a student. Well, Robby began with his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavor. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rythm needed to excel. But he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces that I require all my students to learn.
Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he'd always say, "My mom's going to hear me play some day." But it seemed hopeless. He just did not have any inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled but never stopped in. Then one day Robby stopped coming to our lessons. I thought about calling him but assumed, because of his lack of ability, that he had decided to pursue something else. I also was glad that he stopped coming. He was a bad advertisement for my teaching!
Several weeks later I mailed to the student's homes a flyer on the upcoming recital. To my surprise Robby (who received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and because he had dropped out he really did not qualify.
He said that his mom had been sick and unable to take him to piano essons but he was still practicing. "Miss Hondorf...I've just got to play!" he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital.
Maybe it was his persistance or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be alright.
The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friends and relatives. I put Robby up last in the program before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing piece. I thought that any damage he would do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my "curtain closer."
Well the recital went off without a hitch. The students had been practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked like he' run an egg-beater through it.
"Why didn't he dress up like the other students?" I thought. "Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?"
Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began. I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo...from allegro to virtuoso. His suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people his age After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild applause. Overcome and in tears I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. "I've never heard you play like that Robby!
How'd you do it?" Through the microphone Robby explained: "Well Miss Hondorf...remember I told you my mom was sick? Well actually she had cancer and passed away this morning. And, well....she was born deaf so tonight was the first time she ever heard me play. I wanted to make it special." There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening.
As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed into foster care, I noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy and I thought to myself how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil. No, I've never had a progege but that night I became a protege...of Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil. For it is he that taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone and you don't know why. This is especially meaningful to me since after serving in Desert Storm Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995, where he was reportedly....playing the piano.
6 comments:
It is really a moved story. very very great story for people to update their manner. we can not judge one people talent by their first appearance or action. Talent can create from ambition or goal. When they are in edge of the cliff they will make sure to fight for their goal even they knew that they going fall of the cliff, still they're giving all their best to climbs back and success!
It is a secret story, the concept is (do not judge someone only appearance). People have different kinds. Some are talent when they learn and get from other people faster, but others are very stupid. However some stupid people might be clever when they practice. Because she or he does not want to show his or her achievements yet and sometimes they are tired or busy with their work. Mostly they are also stressful with their family lifestyles so they do not spend their times with study. Anyway when they turn to study; they grow faster much more than someone does very day.
It is very said story. When I read at end of story, my eyes also red too. In this story the author want to teach that Don't look down someone when we just meet the first time or by their appearance. If we do like this, we will make them disappointed. Moreover people always have their own value that are different from each other. Like Robby, his value is that he want his mother listen the song the last time before she die that he plays in the recital.
Very good story, if all of you want to be great person in the world we should learn to listen all time such as students we need to listen form teacher for news to get new idea,although have some problem we still try related to the story,He said that his mom had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons but he was still practicing. "Miss Hondorf...I've just got to play!" he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital.
Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was something inside of me saying that it would be alright. the great word when we listen more we will get more information.
The story is very amazing that I myself read the whole story which demonstrate a man who is student have not got talent to piano lesson. Because of his mother, he dutifully learnt with his teacher's negative thought. However, he is a successful person who made other people applause. move over, people pound of him that related to society, we cannot evaluate someone depending on his or her appearance. You know people have different talents or abilities. Although we are able to do sth, we cannot evaluate others who are unable. All in all, "Learn to listen" is one of the best advice make our life success in the future.
After i read this article, I knew that Robby was a grateful boy even though he was not talent, but he tried his best to be good at playing the piano. So, it is such a great story that everyone should know about this. One more, we cannot judge someone talent by his or her first appearance, and we should feel free to listen some advices from other people because no one perfects.
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