Perceptions: After the Recital

I am shocked! It’s surreal. I still don’t believe it. The feedback and comments I have received are a far cry from what I perceived the recital to be. I knew I have been playing well these past few weeks but whether I had improved or regressed, only the Winfield recital would reveal.

I was very surprised to hear some of the comments. I don’t often blow my own trumpet here on this blog. Some of the comments I received include:
- You had the audience in the palm of your hand for most of the time
- You kept the audience on the edge of their seat wondering what would happen next
- We have not heard that piano sound so beautiful for some time
- We were breathless and it was breathtaking.
- Your playing lifted my spirits.
- You have grown so much and now you don’t just play the piano, you are the instrument.
- You played an incredible, fabulous, wonderful, great, etc. recital!
- You’re finally playing at the doctoral level.

I had to wait to meet with my former piano professor to find out what exactly happened. I am glad he pointed out a lot of the things I did. I hope he puts them in an email because I still have a hard time letting it sink in. I’m playing with a good full tone. I’m taking more time and freedom at the piano. There was a certain serene and calm quality about the Schubert that was projected to the audience. I’m also finally giving myself a little more and the extrovert is slowly coming back. There is much more personality in my playing now. Perhaps dancing has helped my playing and performing.

With my curiosity peaked, I watched the DVD of my U of Alabama recital and I shocked myself. I have to wait to get home to review the Winfield recital. I already know it is the best recital of the five. To enjoy being on stage again, to be really calm in a recital and to love the piano again, confirm that the change of teachers was the correct decision. Now with all these experiences behind me, I’m ready for the next set of challenges and a new chapter at UA.