#SOL16 Day 23

Life is like a ten speed bicycle.  Most of us have gears we never use. ~ Charles M. Schulz

I played the piano yesterday. I played the piano yesterday in front of the whole school and a dozen parents who showed up for our Tenebrae service. So what’s the big deal you ask? I haven’t played the piano in four years!

Although I have a degree in Music Education, piano is not my primary instrument. I was/am a string player, string bass specifically. I played the piano all the time for my students but never for performances or church services unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. I am not that confident in my playing abilities and get VERY nervous. Since I moved into a teaching position four years ago where I only teach ELA, I haven’t touched the keyboard – not even at home.

Sadly, the music teacher at school lost her mother this past week, and she was out on bereavement leave. I filled in for her at the 5K event on Saturday and gave the choir their starting pitch and directed them in the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” which was easy peasy, no pressure. I guess that’s where my principal got the idea that I could fill in at Tenebrae. He emailed me the night before, and I must admit, I panicked a little bit. I didn’t have a copy of the music at home, so I would have to wait until I got to school on Tuesday morning to find music and practice. I bit my lip and told him I would do it.

Long story short, I found the music (it was only eight measures long), practiced a couple times by myself and a couple times with the cantor; we we off to Tenebrae. We had to repeat the verse six or seven times in the course of the service. By the second or third time I realized that I was really enjoying myself and even missed playing a little bit…just a little bit. I heard a couple of clinkers, but my colleagues swear they heard not one wrong note.

I guess it is like riding a bike. All those years of practicing came back to me.The muscle memory in my fingers carried me through. Don’t hold your breath though; there are no upcoming concert dates for me.