Piano Relay Recital

Preparations are coming to a close until tomorrow for the Piano Relay Recital. The last pan of cookies, peppernuts, are in the oven, will I rescue them before they are a crusty color??? A computer makes it difficult to multi-task! I hear you are not to multi-task because nothing is done well. I keep trying to prove that statement wrong.

The nine students are going to congregate at the church fellowship hall to play their songs tomorrow. Remembering Mom’s preparations for a piano recital, I decided to put forth more effort. Mom used to write a story. Since she moved her residence to heaven just eight years ago, I cannot ask, so I decided to let my mind go.

Several of my students play soccer, enjoy watching football, etc., I decided on a relay race. But why run a relay race? Ah, an elephant. Don’t ask, I don’t know where the elephant came from either. (I did find one in Hobby Lobby.) One of my adult students purchased a 12 inch stick that bounces on which I drew a Treble Cleff and I have a Relay Baton.

Tomorrow I will add four kinds of cookies, candy, pineapple sherbet, ginger ale/sprite, to the car’s contents of musical favors from friendshiphouse.com, decorations, candlesticks, table decorations and I am ready to lay it all out in the fellowship hall at church. The programs are ready, thanks to PrintShop and Office Depot. I am glad that this recital only comes once a year. And I am thankful to one of the student’s grandmother who will bring one more kind of cookies.

When the recital begins we will begin with prayer and thanksgiving for students who can learn. The following story will provide a vehicle for the various titles of songs that the students will play. Will there be fumbles? Will there be false starts? Oh, yes, but forgiving parents and other participants gladly hear only the right notes, much as our Heavenly Father expects us to stumble, but through the blood of Jesus Christ, he only sees our faith and trust in Him.

Once upon a time, long ago, Brady and Abby set out from their home on a long walk. They were going to a Piano Relay Recital to play. They encountered a huge grey elephant. A noisy elephant.

The elephant trumpeted, “I need help, I need help.”

He wouldn’t stop trumpeting. He was so loud that Brady and Abby held their fingers in their ears. Finally, the elephant quieted down and stared at Brady.

Brady asked, “Oh, huge and big elephant, why do you need help?

The elephant sniffed, “If someone doesn’t run this relay race, I will never get to eat my favorite cookies. I love cookies!”

“Your favorite cookies? Which cookies are your favorite, oh huge and grey elephant?” asked Brady.

“Will you begin the relay race if I tell you?” The elephant was not sure he could trust Brady.

“Of course, we will,” Brady said. Abby smiled and nodded her head.

Then the elephant said, “The relay race begins with Carlee. She will find the Treble Clef Baton on the piano in the vase. After she plays, she is to take the baton to Destinee and she will take the baton to the piano and play her song.”

“But what is your favorite cookie? “ Brady was curious. He hoped it wasn’t his favorite cookies, he was looking forward to eating a few himself!

“After all nine people have played their songs, then you can go to the refreshment table and find out.”

The elephant trumpeted once and said, “Carlee, you may begin the journey by
’Sailing’ to the piano. After you have sailed many days, you will come to the country of Romania where you will hear the ‘Roumanian Rhapsody’. Take a quick detour to Scotland, for there the ‘Scottish Bagpipes’ play’”

“Thank you, Carlee. Destinee, it is so dark during this relay, we must have light! Please play “This Little Light Is Going to Shine.” After you play, take the Treble Clef Baton to Kayla.”

“Kayla just began this race and we are so glad she joined us. Kayla wants to ‘Go Tell Aunt Rhodie’, ‘Happy Halloween’! She will take the Treble Clef Baton to Abby.”

“Abby has been taking just a few lessons and could hardly wait help in the Piano Relay Race. Abby loves ‘Marching’, and marched right into the town of ‘Halloween’. There she stopped to watch the ‘Jumping Frogs’. After you finish your part of the relay race, Abby, please take the Treble Clef Baton to Brady.”

“Brady loves to make up new songs and change the melodies. He is very curious. One day he wondered about a bird. He listened to the ‘Sing Bird Sing’, and wondered why the Bird couldn’t play a Bugle. A ‘Bugle Call’ from a bird would be so much fun. One day Brady told me, ‘Soccer is my favorite!’ Give the Treble Clef Baton to Makayla when you finish your lap in our relay.

Makayla, the relay race is almost finished. Makayla loves to play Indian songs, and for this race she chose the ‘Indians’ to go with her. I am not sure why, but the Indians like to climb. On their way a Windmill stood in the way. Up they scooted to the top of the ‘Windmill’. There at the top of the windmill they played a song, the ‘Harp Song’. This relay race wouldn’t be the same without Indians from the Harp tribe. Makayla, when you finish, take the Treble Clef Baton to Kourtney.

Kourtney, welcome, to the relay race! We need to march right along! Perhaps if we called out the Marines and they marched to the ‘Marines Hymn’ we could go faster. They also know like ‘Eidelweis’. Then we must add something Italian, I know, why not a tarantula? We could really go fast if we play the ‘Tarantella’. Please hand the Treble Clef Baton to Miss Suzanne when you finish.

Miss Suzanne loves to make new friends. One day while she was ‘In Church’ and she introduced herself to a boy and a girl. They told her that they were ‘Frankie and Johnny’. Miss Suzanne, you have the honor of handing the Treble Clef Baton to Miss Eileen, the last person in our Relay Race before we find out which cookies the Huge Elephant loves to eat!

Miss Eileen, we know you haven’t been feeling very well, so perhaps you could walk slower in a ‘Solemn Procession’. And when we cross the finish line, I know we will hear ‘Chimes’. As soon as you finish, we will go to the refreshment table.

I thank you all for participating in this special Piano Relay Race to help our Elephant. He will never forget your kindness! Let’s find out which cookies the Elephant likes!!!

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