I recently attended a piano recital presented by students of Ann Walker.
My main reason for attending was that my little friend, Madison Mai, was a participant. She was the first student to perform and did quite well. Afterward, when I commended her she was quick to tell me that she didn't "mess up."
This was the first piano recital I had attended in approximately 25 years, the last being when my son performed in one when he was about 8 years old.
However, I remember many piano recitals in which I performed when I was growing up as my sister and I both took lessons throughout our school years. I was probably in 10 or more, the last being a senior recital presented with three of my friends, Mary Elizabeth Conner, Peggy Slatten and Sue Fitts.
My mother was adamant about our taking lessons even though she had to sell eggs, sew for the public and do various other things to come up with the $10 for the lessons each month, along with money for music and dresses for recitals.
Of course, she always made the dresses as well as our corsages. She usually made the corsages using flowers from our yard.
My sister and I both began taking lessons from Mrs. Miles at Swiftown, but when each of us transferred to Morgan City School in the seventh grade, we continued our lessons under the tutelage of Mrs. Olive Thompson.
I previously wrote an article for the paper as a tribute to Mrs. Thompson. She was a very good teacher and we made quick progress.
We had to memorize all of our pieces and I always got very nervous when playing in a recital, although memorization was easy for me. I just didn't like playing in front of a lot of people.
Unlike Madison, I did "mess up" at times. But, I was always able to get back on track without many problems.
Although our father worked on the farm and was very busy in the spring - the time of our recitals - he always attended. It was hard for him because he went to work at 5 a.m. and barely got home in time to get ready and get to the recital, but he was always there. He always attended everything we participated in, even the basketball games when I mostly just warmed the bench.
Mrs. Thompson's husband, Sam, worked for Senator Eastland in Washington and was usually away for the recitals, but if he was home, he attended. I remember once Mrs. Thompson called me over to peep out the side door beside the stage during a recital to see Sam sleeping in the back of the auditorium. So I'm sure it was hard for him too.
After the recital, Ann Walker presented certificates to those students who had participated in the program at Delta State. This brought back memories as I, too, participated in those programs several times.
At that time, a composition for each grade level was selected and each person in that grade level played the same piece. Of course, each person would perform it a little differently. Then, each student was given a grade - superior, excellent or good.
The first time I participated, each student played his or her piece in the auditorium before the judges, as well as the other students, and the people in the audience. I was not the first one to perform in my grade level and it was very nerve-wracking to listen to others play the piece I was about to play and wonder if they were playing it the way it should be and I had practiced it wrong. Anyway, it was too late to change it then!
After the first year, the procedure was changed so that each student performed privately in the presence of one judge. That was much better! However, I always got nervous and "excellent" was the best rating I ever received.
I have thoroughly enjoyed playing the piano throughout my life and am so grateful that my mother insisted on lessons. Over the years, I have provided music for various weddings and other functions and a lot of entertainment for myself. There is nothing that brings more pleasure than being able to play a musical instrument.
So, to Madison I would say "keep up the good work!"
-Ervilene Pruett is a long-time Delta resident and former Staplcotn employee.
