When I was in elementary school, I was convinced I needed a theatrical agent. That was a big word for a 4th grader, but I had big dreams to match. I was going to be famous. For a while I wanted to be a song and dance gal. I also toyed with piano performance and dramatic acting. Nothing was out of grasp. I could do it. I could do it all. I was going to be famous.
I worked hard at my talents. Every week included lessons in dance and piano and rehearsals for theater productions. I was always looking for the next audition and my opportunity to take the spotlight. The summer between 8th and 9th grade, I joined the cast of "The King & I" in Salt Lake City which turned me into a professional. My first paid gig. I was on my way.
When I mastered Rachmoninoff's "Prelude in D" on the piano, I knew my path was set. My solo in the local ballet production kept the momentum moving forward. Going to State competition as the lead in the one-act play was another star on my path.
Moving forward decades now, I never actually needed that theatrical agent. In fact, my first paid gig was my last paid gig. "Prelude in D" was followed by a half-hearted attempt at "Prelude in E-flat" and then the music book was filed away. I never found my way back to the stage again.
After a brief, but rewarding life as a gypsy, I got married. My hours practicing dance and piano were replaced with laundry, nursings, kindergarten and driving my children to their own lessons. My fingers have forgotten all but church primary tunes. My voice knows only to project when a child is misbehaving. My arabesque is low and crooked. All these talents I worked so hard developing and in which I found great joy, have been neglected and fallen into the mother's black hole of "things I used to do."
Through the last 12 years of motherhood, I have still felt the stirrings of performance. I've found my way back to the stage a few times. I can count them on 3 fingers. 1, 2, 3 (that's me in the pants.) Deep inside me still lingers the desire to dance, to make music and to take to the stage.
And that is where the Revival Recital comes into play. It is time to dust off the old piano books and flex those fingers or rosin that bow. It is time to revive old talents and renew the idea that YOU have something to share.
This upcoming Revival Recital 2012 will focus on musical talents. Here is the general idea. If you don't know how to play the piano or some other instrument (violin, guitar, flute, etc) but you have always wanted to, now is your chance. If you already play, find a piece that will challenge you and start practing. You have all summer. At the end of summer (probably Aug. 25th Saturday) we will have a recital at the Piano Gallery in Orem. We are talking Grand-Piano-on-a-stage recital hall. If this works out, we may do it again or incorporate other performance-type talents.
Doesn't it sound amazing? All summer, you can practice your heart out with focus and purpose. One song, one summer, lots of women. Imagine how it will feel to learn something new and challenge yourself. Imagine how your children might feel to realize that mom has talents other than making peanut butter sandwiches and ramen noodles. Imagine giving yourself time to focus on you and your talents and your goals. Imagine your family's faces as they give you a standing ovation after your performance. You really can't pass this up.
Please comment or email me with any questions. There is also a Revival Recital facebook group if you want to be a part of that. I've already pulled out my piano book. Looks like the kids got to it first.
