Yesterday Miss 15 had her first clarinet exam. I was quite nervous about the whole thing. It required me to drive her to the examination, here in "still-quite-new-to-me-Melbourne". Genetics being what they are, she was very nervous too! Of course, she had good cause to be nervous. Me, not so much.
She came out of the exam saying that it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be, and she didn't even cry. Which sounds melodramatic, but she is terribly nervous about performing. In fact, she decided to quit music this year because then she wouldn't have to perform. Of course, part way through first term she became upset because she missed it so and switched back to music. She is much happier now, except when she has to perform. Every time she talked to her teacher about the upcoming exam she would cry, so the not crying thing was a big deal. So, lots of nervousness here yesterday for the exam, and today for her school recital tonight.
Here she is being nervous just before playing. She has played before in front of people, but only as part of a group.
And here she is actually playing. She was so terribly nervous. She stood there shaking and without breath, (Wind instruments really need breath you know!) but she did it! And without fainting or crying. At our house when you have been terribly brave we say you have been a "big brave dog". (It's a "Rugrats" quote. Chuckie (the resident scardy-cat) says it to himself when he needs to be brave.) She was a big brave dog tonight. Phew! A sigh of relief! It's all over... maybe now I can do something! (I know! I didn't do anything scary! I was still so very nervous though. Wonder where she gets that from?)
