Presentation Night

Last night was the homeschool presentation night. I knew it was coming and prepared a piece to play from memory. 

When we got there, I knew my violin needed tuning, and for once, the tuner was actually in my case. I was showed to a room where I could practice, or tune, my violin. I tuned it, and for some reason, the G string needed the most tuning. 

I waited nervously for my turn, but when it came, I was bursting with confidence. I calmly went back and got my violin. I calmly proceeded to walk up on stage, and began my piece. I had just finished the introduction, but when I reached to hit a note on the G string, it went splat. I tried again, but it wasn't working. I gave it a slight pluck, and realized the G string was completely loosened.

I turned to the crowd and said "Pretend I played that note," and tried to continue. I did, but before long, I came to open G. I hit it, but it failed like the others.  I said "Pretend I played that one, too." The crowd of friends was very understanding, and so I tried to continue, but I couldn't. I had to have every note in there to remember the song. I took the violin off my shoulder, and was looking Mom right in the eye. Everyone else, even Mustang, disappeared. I spoke directly to my mother, saying " I think my G string's broke. I can't go on without it." And with that, I had to pull out. 

I was devastated, but I didn't burst out in tears until I had set the violin down and sat down myself. Then I couldn't even bring myself to clap for the next two. 

Then, Mom came back and said "I know I have to turn the tuning pegs, but when I do-" I cut her off by grabbing the violin and tuner and going to the room I had previously been shown. I knew how to tune it! I was turning, tuning, plucking, everything I could, but it wouldn't do right. I could get it to #G, but not G. I gave it the slightest tweak, and viola, it is perfect G. I nearly screamed. I started playing, and it was then that Mom found me. 

"What do you think?" She asked me. "This is what I think." I replied, plucking G. "You got it!"  "Yep. I want to play my piece again." I said with a confident tone of voice. "Ok... I'll ask if you can." 

She asked, and I could and did. I played it faster than I had the first time, not really caring until I got to my G string notes. Relief flooded me, but I was buried in the music and just kept playing. It sounded perfect! Finally, I finished. I was amazed at how much clapping and shouting I got from the crowd!

After that, we went in the other building with refreshments. I got at least 4 compliments from people on how well I played, and at least 3 for how well I bounced back. I even got one from a second grader.

I hope your evening wasn't as crazy as mine!

Blessings,

Firefly