Today, my nine-year-old son Steven will perform a whistle solo in his public school talent show at 9:00AM, 11:00AM and 6:00PM PST. Steven has been playing whistle for about a month and he is the only boy in the show. There will be dancers, a sax/clarinet duet and various other artists. On his own, Steven has chosen “Amazing Grace.”
Dad is very proud! (sniff)
Well wish him luck from me! It’s always a memorable experience… performing for the first time. Just wonderful.
That’s awesome!
Break a leg Steven!! Congrats to you and your proud Papa…
All the best,
Andrea ~*~
Well, there were 400 to 500 people in the cafetorium at 9:00. When Steven came onto the stage, the lights were dim. There was no amplification. As he started low, on his new Clarke Sweetone C, a hush fell on the place. The natural echo in the room was AWESOME and the tone carried to the last seats beautifully. He played great and it was very moving. The applause was icing on the cake.
Today I realized that he will one day outgrow his video games but, music will be his forever.
Gary
You know, those video games might actually help your son’s fine motor skills :roll:
Chris
Gary-
Sounds GREAT!!!
I remember my 1st performance on the sax when I was like 10 (I’m 2 days shy of 15 now) and I was scared to death! It was only 100 people too! I admire his courage.
-Ross
PS-Now I’m a lot better at not being nervous…just had to prove my manliness.
Congratulations to you both!!! xoxo - Jessi
So do we get to hear the performance? 
Erik
On 2002-06-19 06:55, ErikT wrote:
So do we get to hear the performance? >Erik
I could not record the performance. My studio gear is tied up in my recording project. Alas, the school would have frowned on my hauling in a bunch of gear anyway. 
When my CD is done, I could take pieces of the whistle solo’s and post them. Would that be okay?
People new to live performance find it very scary. I remember my first experience playing in church! After 6 months of live playing, it’s “old hat” and the nervousness fades. That was 12 years ago. I tell this to new W.T. musicians all the time.
I guess it’s human nature. Like starting a new job, it takes ~6 months for it to feel right. There must be a word or term for this.
“Stagefrighteosis?”
G
Just to add to the comments about stage fright - no matter how comfortable you may become about performing, there can be circumstances that call up stage fright in any performance. You may be playing with unfamiliar partners, to a larger audience, on a new instrument, in less sympathetic surroundings… The best thing is to try to use that energy in your favour. Make sure you are as grounded as you can be (deep breathing or whatever) and then use the extra excitement in your music.
P.S. Congratulations on passing on your music to your son - he’ll appreciate it hugely over the long run.
[ This Message was edited by: Blackbird on 2002-06-19 13:13 ]
I use to have horrible stage fright. After every single piano recitle I ever had, I barfed afterwards in the parking lot. haha I’m a lot better at performing infront of people now. Not nervous at all. I occasionally do when I’m not as prepared as I’d like to be, but it’s always good fun
On 2002-06-17 17:00, Gary wrote:
…
lights …
dim …
a hush fell …
echo …
AWESOME …
tone carried …
beautifully …
played great …
moving …
The applause …Today … realized … he will one day outgrow … but,
music will be his forever.Gary
A sweet memory,
starts a life time,
of music.
Ear fills,
Mind thrills,
heart pours,
spirit soars,
'tis the high life
from within.
As a child of the 60’s, I found no drug could compete with such heartsong. I didn’t do drugs, only because I found that better ‘high’ life.
Here’s to you and your son,
may you both, always …