Tickling the Ivories

Last Saturday, Spencer and Hailey got up early in the morning and dressed in their Sunday clothes to prepare for their piano adjudication.  It is a piano program through Arizona State University called Arizona Study Program, or ASP around our house.    Each child had to memorize four pieces and play them for a judge to critique them on their technique and knowledge of musical phrasing, dynamics, and rhythm.  I used to do these types of competitions as a kid and it brought back a FLOOD of memories for me!  My hands were sweaty and my heart started beating a little faster for them!

Here is Spencer with his headphones on, running through his pieces one last time before we left for ASU.  

They were playing so cute in the backseat.  I just love how these two get along!

Here we are in front of the Gammage Auditorium and their adjudication was in the Music Bld. just adjacent to the Gammage.

Since no parents are allowed in the room, we all took turns listening by the door to hear how the kids performed.  They both played really well.  I was so pleased!

(I just LOVE this picture of Hailey)

After their piano performance portion, they had to each take a theory test which is pretty difficult.  Spencer is a level 4 and Hailey is a level 1.  We just found out last week that they both passed their tests and received a special purple ribbon that states they both passed with "Superior Honors!"  Yeah Hailey and Spencer!!!!

Here is Hailey at her "Let's Play Music" recital.  She has been in this music program for three years and it culminated in a recital where she played her very own composition.  I tried to upload the video of her playing, but it was too long and wouldn't work.  

But the name of her piece was "The Magic Peacock" and she said in her introduction, "If you listen carefully, in the middle section, you can hear the peacock mixing the magic potions!"  It was really cute and she played it perfectly!

I am so grateful that my children are being exposed to music at such an early age.  I can't imagine my life without music.  Hopefully it will add beauty and happiness to their lives as it has mine!

So Happy Today!

I am so happy today!  This week has been a really good one even though it has been super busy, it's been very productive and fun!  First thing---I have lost 5 pounds and I can't tell you what that does for my spirits!  Yee haw!!  Second, we had an incredible thunderstorm two nights ago and that just makes me smile from ear to ear.  I absolutely LOVE summer thunderstorms!

 I love the way the earth smells after it has had a shower---so clean and fresh!

Third, you can notice that our pool is drained in the background.  That is because we finally were able to fix our pool slide and waterfall.  It has been cracked in several places and looking pretty dingy and faded.  Also, the slide has lost it's slippery sheen and was pretty rough on the kids' bottoms!  We hired some workers to come and give it a facelift ----AND we hired a landscape lighting guy to come and fix our outdoor lights that haven't been working for several years.  Oh happy day!

 Fourth - I was able to take a "morning after the thunderstorm" bike ride yesterday and I was absolutely in heaven. I LOVE MY BIKE! The cool wind on my face and the fresh smell in the air was medicine to my soul.  I also said my morning prayer in my mind---thanking my Heavenly Father for blessing me with an incredibly joyful life.  My marriage is so wonderful and our children are doing great things.  Not all days with children are so happy, especially with teenagers - but this week is a great week and I'll take it!

 I took this picture on my bike ride to show how strong the wind gusts were during the storm.  This branch was completely broken off!  "We have very weak trees . . ."  (quoting The Money Pit!  ha ha)

The final reason why I am so happy today is that this week I was able to finally complete the two songs we are using for our stake pioneer trek.  I wrote and arranged both of these songs and have put countless hours on the piano and the computer getting them finished.  Every note has to be individually hand-clicked with a mouse on the computer.  I am getting faster and learning the program which is helping a lot.  It is just a tremendous sense of accomplishment for me to see these pieces in this finished state.  Now, I want to do the same for the Christmas song Tom and I wrote and another song I wrote for a stake Refinement Night several years ago.  Hopefully this summer I can those done too.  I am so grateful for music and the blessing it is in my life.  


Count your blessings . . . name them one by one . . .