[Pappagallo]

Ok, I know this is just my ego at work but honestly, I am offended over something that just happened.


IT is Easter Sunday and things were going until I got a request to play piano. Normally, I am happy to play for people, but I don't like to play for my family and you will hear why in just a moment.

So I go into the living room and I was pretty excited becuase I was asked to play. So I opened up the piano top and began playing the first movement of Greig. I can get used to the talking while I play well becus I am hearing imparied but what I didn't like it was when my sis fowarded a message from the rest of the family that I was playingn too loud and should quiet down. Sorry, Grieg marked forte.

Just to set the seen, they were sitting in the dining room, I was in the living room with some of my other relatives. The house is all open so if you are in the dining room you can still hear the piano fine.

My aunt wanted to hear a song from Phantom of the Opera so I played music of the night which I know very well becuase I improvise it all the time.

Then I began playing a slow movement of the Grieg suite which is quieter. I was happy as a clam playing the Air when my Godfather tells me to sing. Here is the thing, I am in a choir at my college and sing there. I am not a soloist really. And the stuff I sing is either hymns or classical music. So the songs they all wanted to hear I didn't know. I began playing my favorite popular song "Over the Rainbow and sang some as I played. Sine I am getting over a sinus infection, I did not really project and plus my whole family was talking and not really listening.

So when I finished the song, I played the first movement of a mozart sonata I have been working on. I tried not to play too loud. Luckully Mozart is a little lighter than Grieg. I was enjoying myself untill my mother blurted out: "Play something nice!"

I was kind of insulted because isn't Mozart nice. I mean he is only a genius of course. I don't know just got offended. This is why I do not play for family and why I am happy that I am going over to cape cod by myself. Better that way.

Ok, now I must let it be becuase I don't want my ego to get the better part of me. I think I will be better once they all leave.

[QPdad]

I don't claim to know for sure but I know sometimes when conversations are going in all directions and people don't want the music to stop, someone will blurt out some pretty nonsensical things just to indicate that they're aware of your playing.

You or I would be hanging on to every note but people who are not so involved in the music can somehow get pleasure in just having it behind the conversation. (I can't understand it either but I know it exists.)

[Pappagallo]

Yeah, I know, but what makes this suck is that it comes from family. Strangers, I wouldn't care as much.

[xerxeys mama]

Hey Jenn, sorry you have to go through this with family. If you need a shoulder to cry on here iam for ya.

[berlie]

*sigh* sometimes family is the most insensitive... but not on purpose ( I hope )
Have you ever heard the saying, "you can pick your friends, but not your family?"
I say that to myself often when my family gets together. I love them all dearly but sometimes its a bit much.

I would LOVE to have someone play the piano at a get-together. Or guitar. Or ANYTHING!
Some people don't know how to react with live music playing, like Buddy said ... Maybe some of them are even jealous of your talent ? There's nothing you can do about that. Just keep being yourself, LOVE and use the talent God gave you and let other's words or actions slide off your back like a duck!

(I love my family dearly, like I said - but I just didn't have the energy to have everyone over for Easter this year. Yes, some tried to guilt me but I guess I'm just a stubborn German and didn't let it bother me this time! )

Keep tickling the ivories ! Me, my husband, and my son all play the drums ... which is all good BUT ... you won't hear anyone asking us to play in the background !!

[Cheekys mum]

Big huggs hang in there! You can do it!

[ronsig]

People are usually easier to get along with if they are not part of your family.
If you want appreciation for your music, play somewhere else. Nursing homes for example are full of people who just love it when somebody plays live music. When we visit people in nursing homes, I regret not being able to play an instrument. Because these old people just love it and even sing along as much as they can.
My advice is to play more often where you are truly appreciated...

Sigrid