Last week, we had teased a little jam session that Little Bean had participated in at a friend’s home back on Christmas Eve.
Well, we thought we’d present the little video of that performance today.
The three musicians backing her up were incredibly patient and enthusiastic about letting her take the lead on this version of Jingle Bells, as it gave her a real taste of what it would be like to perform and play in a band.
The one and only time I ever performed music in public was for a Boy Scout variety show with my troop. Myself and another scout played guitar. I forget the song. Earlier that day, my mother had recorded me doing some background rhythm guitar work and when we began our performance, she clicked play so technically we were three guitars playing. I don’t recall much about that other than being nervous and mortified.
Today, I can stand in front of an audience all day long, but back then it was torture.
Not so with Little Bean. She focused, took her time, got it (mostly) right and seemed relaxed and having fun. Tomorrow, she’ll be playing in her third formal recital celebrating one year of piano lessons and I understand Jingle Bells is on the play-list.
Here’s her band debut!
Once again, this weekend she’ll be performing in the old Congregational Church where she held her first recital, an acoustically gorgeous place to play a piano.
During her first recital, she played four songs by heart. She tells me that this time, she’ll play two by heart, and two using sheet music, so tougher compositions. Things are getting harder as she progresses.
And one item of note: Her two piano benefactors, the kind friends who gave us their piano will, I’m told, be in attendance so there’s an element here of music bridging generations and time, as it should.
We have a lot to look forward to, musically and otherwise, in the new year and it begins this weekend. We play on!
Please let us know if any of you had played in a band?
Reminds me of doing piano recitals myself a century ago, and my parents having me do Christmas carols on the piano 🤣
I wasn't in a band, but a friend and I in 8th through 12th grade would jam at his house sometimes, him on guitar and me on his moms baby grand. I also sang chorus from 7th - 12th grade.
Go Uma Go !!
Nicely done, Little Bean!! I played clarinet in the high school band.