Thank you for the music, ,,,,,,,Thanks for all the joy ...

My son stood on the stage dressed in his suite with a shy smile with those gifted students who gave all they had to create music. Music is such a special gift that goes beyond the moment of winning or losing. Seeing the bright set of eyes beaming with pride when the first place trophy is handed to your child is a moment to cherish for any parent. However, if that moment is the ultimate joy in creating music, you have missed it all. It is a remarkable feeling to win and to feel rewarded for your daily hours of practice, but typical hard work is more associated with an　invisible and intangible reward. Some rewards are simply found inside your own heart or mind that no one else can see or touch. But the reward is bigger, because it lasts beyond the moment of receiving a trophy.

I happen to be one of those kids who worked quite hard but never won or excelled in most things I tried including art, music, academics, or sports. I was never on top of the class no matter how hard I tried. I was told I started flute playing just a little too late in my life to catch up. Gymnastics was quite exciting and I loved the fact that my flexibility came in handy, but alas, I was told I was way too tall. I had an excellent piano teacher in my life with whom I still keep in touch. She taught me for 8 or 9 years. But there were always very gifted pianists in my area where I grew up, Nagoya Japan. Nagoya is a city with over 2 million population so competition was never even a possibility for me. Life always seemed cruel when I struggled to work so much harder than others and never excelled. But maybe I did not work hard enough. Beaten by my own younger brother in both academics and music (Piano and Flute both!!) was never easy either.

I began learning to give up early so I can protect myself from experiencing the sense of rejection or failure. One year, I put my flute down and never played it for several years. I share all this to say that I understood and sensed more of what may have been in the hearts of the children who did not have a trophy to hold than what my own son may have felt when he received one. I felt for the other children and my heart ached for them as if I was the one who did not win when I should have felt an excitement and pride for my child.

And, I could also hear the echoing pride in the hearts of the parents whose children stood without trophies to hold. An intense pride was there knowing that they supported their children to learn something special, the art of creating music.

I can honestly say that I enjoyed every students' performance that brought them there today. Hard work displayed by children often bring tears to my eyes. Also I felt sad with them when they lowered their heads in a bit of sadness from making what seemed to them were major collision or when a few phrases left their memory leaving a blank line. But behind all that was the commitment and participation of the teacher, the parents, and most of all the players who sit at the piano everyday, and this commitment often does not receive a trophy. A teacher who teaches you to enjoy music while also pushing and challenging your limit is a gift in life. Cherish it if you have one. I certainly did and so does my blessed boy, for which we are incredibly excited and grateful.

My piano teacher did not hesitate to clearly indicate my lack of gift and the limitation in the level of my ability; but she was more than willing to continue to teach me so I would enjoy piano the rest of my life. And I do.

Playing for trophy was not the reason why each student demonstrated their best on the stage. They played for me, they really did. And I felt treated, treated to a precious performance. I know more than anyone that performance brings the unwelcome rush of adrenaline that clamps down my peripheral blood circulation, creates tremors, sweaty fingers that slip off the black keys, and cold and clammy toes that makes my pedal control unsteady. But, when I have a near dead baby in front of me, all that nervousness I felt disappear and I gain the strange calmness to know just how to resuscitate the baby. One day I was faced with a 6 or 700 gram infant who was about 24 weeks in gestation at an outline facility (meaning no trained staff used to handle these types of patients were present). My own transport team with gifted nurse and a respiratory therapist had not arrived at the site yet either. I had to handle it pretty much alone while quietly instructing scared and also untrained staff to provide me the best assistance they could give me. The baby did not cry or breathe. I knew the size of breathing tube or how much drug to order, or what to tell the panicked staff. All the calmness I wished I had when I tried to perform piano was granted when I found my niche faced with a vulnerable and ill infant.

I still LOVE music and I play what I can but I play for me and not to "wow" anyone else. I absolutely love it that our son enjoys playing and he does not mind playing for others. He does not seem to have the same adrenaline rush that always tortured me so much and so often.

Music taught me something precious. Joy of feeling more than the sound. And that is what I enjoy when I am treated to performance of well trained musicians and even untrained ones like my son and other students.

Erik has struggled this past year with the stuttering issue that torment him daily. He and I were discussing the problem openly one day to strategize for improvement. "Mom, I am so glad that my fingers don't stutter on me". Well, he may not be articulate when he tries to present his science poster but he spoke well today at the piano.

Congratulations to Erik. And Congratulations to all who worked hard. Competition never rewarded me with a trophy, but I am glad that I did not quit playing. I am grateful that my mother knew the value of accomplishment that does not translate into a trophy or trophies. I wish the best for all the kids I heard today that they would continue to work hard and enjoy the art of "making music" for many years to come. Yes, the trophies are wonderful but if that is the only goal, you are going to miss what is far more important.

We are blessed to have a special person in our lives who is inspiring my son's musical mind and ability.(the top photo) Enjoy Dr. Immel's performance at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQq-zFjZAAw, and at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6FAstoTl7E&feature=related

You will be inspired.