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YOU WILL NEVER BE A PIANO PLAYER
Contributed by
lovingcritters
on
Wednesday, 21st January 2004 @ 06:26:35 AM in AEST
Topic:
Grief
|
After much prodding from her friends,
Mildred Hondorf has decided to tell her story.
"I've taught children piano lessons for over
30 years, and not once did I ever get a
prodigy!
However, I've had my share of "musically
challenged" pupils, and one such student
was Robby.
Robby was 11 when his single mom
dropped him off for his lessons, and he
was always ready.
Robby said that it had always been his
mother's dream to hear him play the piano.
I knew from the very first lesson, Robby
would never be a piano player, he was a
hopeless zero!
As hard as Robby tried, he lacked the sense
of tone, and basic rhythm to excel.
Each lesson, I would listen and cringe,
and many times wanted to bid him farewell!
But he never gave up and each time he would say,
"I can hardly wait until my Mom can hear me play!"
It just seemed a hopeless endeavor, he
didn't have any inborn ability.
I only knew his mother from a distance,
as she dropped him off each week in her
aged car, she would wave as if cheery.
Then one week Robby didn't show up for
his lessons.
Because of his inability, I assumed he had
stopped playing, as something else beckons
I was not sorry that he stopped coming, for
he was a bad advertisement for my teaching.
The piano for Robby was just too hard,
no matter to him, how far reaching!
Several weeks later I mailed a flyer to all
my students, telling of the upcoming recital.
Robby answered right back and said,
"Miss Handorf, I've just got to play!" most tactful!
He told me his mother had been very ill
unable to bring him.
I don't know why I told him he could be in the
recital, for he really didn't qualify, it must
have been a whim.
That night the high school gymnasium was
packed with parents, friends and relatives.
I purposely put Robby on last in the program,
he could barely reach his octaves.
The recital went off without a hitch.
The students had been practicing, and not
one would even flinch!
Then Robby came up on the stage, and his
clothes were wrinkled, his hair looked straggly.
"Why hadn't his mother dressed him up or
at least combed his hair surely!"
Robby pulled out the piano bench and began,
I was so surprised, he had chosen Mozart's
Concerto #21 in C Major, I almost ran!
I was not prepared for what I heard next.
His fingers were light on the keys, and they
danced nimbly on the ivories, unvexed!
From pianissimo to fortissimo to allegro
to virtuoso!
His suspended chords that Mozart demands
were aglow!
Never had I heard Mozart played so well for
a boy of his age.
After six and on half minutes he ended
it page after page.
A grand crescendo and everyone was on
their feet in wild applause.
Overcome, and in tears, I ran on to the stage,
putting my arms around Robby with joy.
"I've never heard you play like that Robby!"
"My mother had cancer, and passed away
this morning.
She was born deaf, and tonight was the
first time she ever heard me play, I didn't want
any notes missing!"
As the people from Social Services led
Robby from the stage to be placed in foster care.
I noticed that even their eyes were red and
puffy, there wasn't a dry eye anywhere.
I'd never had a prodigy, but that night I
became a prodigy of Robby.
He had taught me the meaning of
perseverance, love, and believing in yourself amply.
Never taking a chance in someone,
and giving up on them ever!"
Sadly Robby was killed in the senseless
bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal
Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995.
But his music and he will always be played
over and over in my heart while I'm alive!
Created by
Cheri Cam LeBren
January 2004
This was a true story
told my Miss Mildred Handorf.
The poem is mine.
"When presented with seemingly
trivial interactions between two people
we have a choice:
Do we act with compassion or do we pass
up the opportunity to love, so that others
too, may rejoice?"
Copyright ©
lovingcritters
... [
2004-01-21 06:26:35]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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Re: YOU WILL NEVER BE A PIANO PLAYER
(User Rating: 1 )
by emystar on
Wednesday, 21st January 2004 @ 06:56:16 AM AEST
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Wow, this is so sad but beautifull.
Very well done, my friend.
Hugss, luv,
emy |
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Re: YOU WILL NEVER BE A PIANO PLAYER
(User Rating: 1 )
by LOWMAN613 on
Wednesday, 21st January 2004 @ 10:31:34 AM AEST
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a Message)
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| AAWW I so loved this story it brought a tear to me & made me tingle inside! That was so beautiful of him to do that for her.I know she heard him play load & clear! Great write! Christina |
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Re: YOU WILL NEVER BE A PIANO PLAYER
(User Rating: 1 )
by ladyfawn on
Wednesday, 21st January 2004 @ 02:42:05 PM AEST
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| wow! *wipes eyes* wonderful poem! thanx for sharing! hugs n' love nessa |
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Re: YOU WILL NEVER BE A PIANO PLAYER
(User Rating: 1 )
by Kie on
Wednesday, 21st January 2004 @ 02:54:47 PM AEST
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a Message)
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Beautiful, filled my eyes with tears.
It also reminded me that I had taken piano lessons for years and could not play. Eventually I begged my piano instructor to play something and give me a chance to play whatever he played. I could hear the music because it was my soul but I couldn't read the music because my mind would give it no attention.
I could see your story in my mind and found myself proud of Robby, may he rest in peace.
Kie |
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Re: YOU WILL NEVER BE A PIANO PLAYER
(User Rating: 1 )
by jme on
Thursday, 22nd January 2004 @ 12:53:42 PM AEST
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| WOW! I still have goosebumps as I write this. Very touching and well written. |
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Re: YOU WILL NEVER BE A PIANO PLAYER
(User Rating: 1 )
by norm on
Thursday, 22nd January 2004 @ 04:40:01 PM AEST
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a Message)
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Critters Lady..This is a fine example of the
type of grand poetry that touches the soul..
It is so sad, my usual jesting comment
just doesn't fit..This poem is great!!! |
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Re: YOU WILL NEVER BE A PIANO PLAYER
(User Rating: 1 )
by TheSpiritx on
Saturday, 31st January 2004 @ 03:13:36 PM AEST
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a Message)
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I definitely enjoyed reading this. It made me appreciate the finer things in life and the effects that love has on anything we can do.
Thank you very, very much for posting this. |
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Re: YOU WILL NEVER BE A PIANO PLAYER
(User Rating: 1 )
by Cobalt on
Friday, 13th February 2004 @ 12:31:21 AM AEST
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a Message)
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| Wow... What a story.. So beautifully written too. |
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