Doublereed Archive - Posting 000028.txt from 2003/01

From: "Vickery, Lisa" <Lisa.Vickery@-----.com>
Subj: [DR-L] recovering from a bad recital
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003 17:52:09 -0500

This question isn't specific to double-reed playing, but rather has to do
with fostering love of music in children and helping them overcome flubbed
performances.
My 10-year-old son recently was in a piano recital, and it was a disaster.
Luckily, he's had several others that went off without a hitch. But for this
one, he began playing his little Berlioz piece (which he'd played a million
times by memory) and just choked about 2 lines into it. He started over, but
hit the same problem at the same spot. He simply couldn't remember how it
went.
The teacher told him to take a bow (meaning: get off stage).
Obviously, it was a heart-breaking experience, and he sobbed quietly through
the rest of the hour-long recital.
My questions to you:
Was the teacher too harsh in rushing him off stage? ( I thought so, but I
also realize he's seen these kinds of problems over the years and knows when
somebody is having an off day.)
And secondly, do you have any words to the wise about how I can prevent this
from turning into a musical scar that doesn't heal properly? Luckily, he's
continued to practice regularly and hasn't mentioned any desire to quit, but
I suspect the experience has subtracted something from his willingness to
perform.

Lisa V., oboe/flute. NJ