Christmas Piano Recital...

This year's piano recital was done virtually. Each student recorded their pieces individually, at their own connivence, with our piano teacher. I didn't watch the boys record their pieces because I thought they would do better without an audience. So, I didn't actually get any pictures of them recording their pieces, but I was ok with this, because I knew I would get to see the video!

Both boys had quite an opinion on which piece they played, but once they settled on their pieces, they practiced many hours. Remi played Tidings of Emmanuel and Roen played Carol of the Bells from Home Alone (his favorite Christmas movie). 

Lots of practicing is done in the mornings when teeth brushing is supposed to be happening, even more practicing is done when we should be walking out the door to go somewhere, but the very best time to practice is when the other one is practicing, which leads to arguing, criticizing each others playing, and turning the piano off when one is in the middle of a piece! 

Even so, I am pretty proud of how far the boys have come!

Contemporary version of 'O Come, 'O Come Emmanuel by Remi

The Ukrainian Bell Carol by Roen

A New Addition...

Last Friday, a new addition to the Davenport house arrived! 

It has been almost 3 years since the boys started piano lessons, and I'm embarrassed to say, they have only had a keyboard not much more than a toy to practice on. Not only that, it doesn't have a stand so it sits on a bench that is too low for a chair and too tall to sit on the ground. All this to say, the boys have had a very lousy place to practice all their hard work!

After weeks of measuring and finding a place a piano could actually fit, I finally went for it! The wall had to be 5 ft wide, which is tricky. The best place ended up being in our entry hall. I knew I wanted a matte black and ended up deciding on digital Yamaha. 

This piano will transition into a baby grand (my ultimate goal) and will never have to be tuned. Remi (my technology guru) has already figured out how to record his pieces and mix in different tempos. He is having an absolute blast figuring it all out and both boys have been playing non-stop!

It is amazing at how much they are already advancing by just having a great place to practice! 

Music Recitals...

After Pancakes With Santa Saturday morning, the boys had their annual piano recital. This summer, Roen started ukulele lessons, so he got to play both the piano and the ukulele.

This spring, will be two years that the boys have been in piano lessons. We started when the boys had tiny, chubby fingers and in only 1st and 2nd grade. Piano lessons is something I continue to be grateful for and refuse to be too busy for. The boys honestly love their lessons. Their teacher is so sweet, going at their own pace, making lessons truly a skill they are learning for fun. Both boys are now in ukulele lessons as well and Roen has 3 string instruments on his Santa List. Their love for musical instruments is expanding and I love watching them explore the art of music.

Roen would ultimately like to play the guitar and Remi dreams of playing the fiddle. Roen's little fingers and arms need to grow a bit before he takes on an instrument the size of a guitar and Remi really needs to start the fiddle during a summer because so much practice is required.

This year, Roen played Jolly Old St Nicholas for his piano piece and Mele Kalikimaka on his Ukulele. If you were to watch the boys play, you would notice that they are very different in the way they play. Roen knew his piece by heart, needing no music, playing with happy fingers, preforming a very laid back version of Jolly Old St Nick. You watch him and know he is truly having the best time stroking those keys- his performance makes you want to sing along! His little Ukulele performance was probably the star of the show. That little blue-eyed boy, sitting up on stage on a wooden stool, legs wrapped around the stool for balance, just strumming along... seriously, it was absolutely adorable! He refused to sing, so his sweet teacher stood beside him and sang while he read his chords and played.

Remi played Angels We Have Heard On High. Remi reads his music, rarely looking at the keys at all. He plays intensely and beautifully. Remi loves the piano in a different way. He loves the challenge and loves finishing a piece in perfection. His pieces almost always bring a tear to my eye. I think maybe watching him be able to read music in a way he cannot read words, stirs something in me that I can't quite explain.

Watching all these tiny people create beautiful music with their fingers makes me a bit emotional every single recital. It is captivating to watch this lost art being performed by the innocent fingers of children. My hope is that the boys will play years into the future, loving the way they can express themselves through their love of music.

Spring Recitals...

Sunday, the boys had their Spring Piano Recital. When choosing their pieces, Remi knew immediately that he wanted to play Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. His teacher did some digging and found an 'easy' version of this piece that Remi was able to play. Roen originally wanted to play Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice, but settled on Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

I love watching the boys play and perform. They are both very shy about introducing themselves and song on stage, but once they start playing, the nerves disappear. They worked hard on these pieces between baseball, practices and reaching AR goals and they both did fantastic. I am super proud of these handsome little guys!

Musical Fingers...

A little over a year ago, both boys started their musical journey of learning to play the piano. In this year, they have learned so much. Each week they get new songs to practice and continue to learn to read and play harder pieces.

Roen plays piano because it puts him closer to doing what he really wants to learn- playing the guitar. We promised him that if started with piano, and worked hard, we would let him take guitar lessons. He doesn't have a bad attitude about going to lessons or practicing, but I also don't often find him playing for fun without my prompting.

Remi, on the other hand, has formed a deep love for playing the piano. He has found a fascination with the pieces of Beethoven and is now learning to play Moonlight Sonata. It is a hard piece and way beyond his playing level, but he goes upstairs and plays the intro over and over again. I am so proud of how hard he works and it is so gratifying to watch your child discover the things in life that make them tick.

A Piano Recital...

Last Sunday, the boys had their very first piano recital. They started taking lessons last Spring and it has been so fun watching them learn to play. Each boy got to choose their own song and have been working hard everyday to get it to perfection.



Remi played Jingle Bells and Roen chose Deck The Halls. Besides the piano teacher's daughter, Roen was the youngest to preform and Remi was 4th youngest. They both did so good and watching them up on stage creating music with their tiny little fingers, truly was magical! There were so many older players with amazing talent- it was neat to see what true commitment to lessons and practice can help you achieve.

Each performer introduced themselves by name and said the name of the song they played. After playing, each one took a little bow before leaving the stage. This is the first time either of my boys have been on stage solo in front of so many people and it was almost more than this Christmas-loving mama's heart could handle!


Roen introducing himself

Roen wasn't a bit nervous and his little happy-go-lucky personality seemed to come out when he played. His performance was very sweet and made everyone watching smile! His little head barely popped over the top of his sheet music and his feet barely touched the ground, but his version of Deck The Halls was the sweetest I have ever heard!



When Roen went to bow himself off stage it looked a little like he was leading everyone in 'Head, and Shoulders, Knees, and Toes'. I was pretty cute and gave everyone in the audience a laugh!



Watching Remi play felt just like watching Micah. He is very precise and meticulous- getting everything just right. He seems to connect with music in way that feels as if his mind is in another world as his fingers play each key. I could have watched him play all evening long.



About 30 seconds into his song, his little eyes looked up from his hands for only a split second- but that is all it took to find what they were looking for- his eyes found mine and he gave the sweetest little smile as if he were playing just for me.



I am so appreciative to those who were able to come see the boys play. These little moments don't come around twice and having family there to be a part of their little world is so very special.






One of Remi's very best friends also plays and it was neat to see him preform as well

Playing the Piano...

I signed the boys up for piano lesons about a month ago and they have learned so much in just five short lessons! They are reading music, learning about the proper way to hold their posture and hands and get to learn new songs every week.

I have them practice throughout the week and I am just amazed as a watch them read the music and create songs with their tiny hands...