Parties are the best way to meet friends, have fun, and show off your skills. So today, when Dad took me to a holiday party at his friend's house, I brought my Chinese Yo-Yo from GHCS Summer Camp and a book of Classics for the Developing Pianist.
Everyone was fascinated by my Chinese Yo-Yo skills. I did tricks and even taught some adults the secret of the Yo-Yo (there isn't one). After about 5 seconds of advice, they attempted to give the Yo-Yo a try. Not everyone was successful. I was on fire and wouldn't drop the Yo-Yo. Toss after toss after the toss; the whooshing sound was deafening. Today was my day.
I then showed my piano skills with Enrique Granados' Valse Poetico #4 upon request. But I was forgotten as soon as an HS senior started to perform. He played a lovely movement with fantastic articulation. His light touch and flowing passages demonstrated excellent attention to detail in dynamic contour. His fingers flew so fast that I could barely see them. By the look of it, he loved to play. The high schooler worked on it for about 40 minutes before he stopped. Even though I had only heard his finale, I was impressed with his performance. Boy, he had huge hands that could probably palm the basketball. I was also shocked that he's only been playing piano for seven years. Seven years at that level! He is a true musical genius. I couldn't stop thinking about who his piano teacher was. It was Mr. Marcantonio Barone, the same teacher who had taught Kevin. You might be wondering who the heck Kevin was. Let's say both Harvard University and New England Conservatory appreciated his talents not only because he was one of 141 high school seniors recognized as Presidential Scholars nationwide in 2012. So common sense tells you that the high schooler at the party was a lot better than me.
So, parties are great places to interact, talk, play, or show off your talents.
