IT IS NOTHING BIG
JUST A TRUE STORY!
name is Mildred Honor and I am a
former elementary school music teacher from
piano lessons - something I have done for over 30
years.
During those years I found that
children have many levels of musical ability, and
even though I have never had the
pleasure of having a prodigy, I have taught some
very talented students. However, I have also had
my share of what
I call 'musically challenged' pupils -
one such pupil being Robby.
Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single
mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson.
I prefer that students (especially boys) begin at
an earlier age, which I explained to Robby.
But Robby said that it had always been his
mother's dream to hear him play
the piano, so I took him as a student.
Well, Robby began his piano lessons and from
the beginning I thought it was a hopeless
endeavour. As much as Robby tried, he lacked
the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel. But
he dutifully reviewed his scales and some
elementary piano pieces that I require all
my students to learn. Over the months he
tried and tried while I listened
and cringed and tried to encourage him. At the end of
each weekly lesson he would always say 'My
mom's going to hear me play someday'. But to me, it seemed
hopeless, he just did not have any
inborn ability.
I only knew his mother from a distance as she
dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to
pick him up. She always waved and smiled, but
never dropped in.
Then one day Robby stopped coming for his lessons..
I thought about calling him, but assumed
that because of his lack of ability he had decided
to pursue something else. I was also glad that he
had stopped coming - he was a bad avertisement
for my teaching!
Several weeks later I mailed a flyer recital to
the students' homes.To my surprise, Robby (who
had received a flyer) asked me if he could be in
the recital. I told him that the recital was
for current pupils and that because he had dropped out,
he really did not qualify. He told me that his
mother had been sick and unable to take him to his
piano lessons, but that he had been practicing.
'Please Miss Honor, I've just got to play'
he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow
him to play in the recital - perhaps it was his
insistence or maybe something inside of me saying that
it would be all right.
The night of the recital came and the high school
gymnasium was packed with parents, relatives and
friends. I put Robby last in the program, just before I was
to come up and thank all the students and play a
finishing piece. I thought
that any damage he might do would come at the
end of the program and I could always salvage his
poor performance through my 'curtain
closer'.
Well, the recital went off without
a hitch, the students had been practicing and it
showed. Then Robby came up on the
stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked
as though he had run an egg beater through it.
'Why wasn't he dressed up like the other
students?' I thought. 'Why didn't his
mother at least make him comb his hair for this
special night?' Robby pulled out the piano bench,
and I was surprised when he announced that he had
chosen to play Mozart's Concerto No. 21 in C Major. I
was not prepared for what I heard next. His fingers
were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the
ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo, from
allegro to virtuoso; his suspended chords that Mozart
demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so
well by anyone his age.
After six and a half minutes he ended in a
grand crescendo, and everyone was on their feet in
wild applause! Overcome and in tears, I ran up on stage and
put my arms around Robby in joy. 'I have never heard you
play like that Robby,
how did you do it?' Through the microphone Robby
explained: 'Well, Miss Honor .... remember I told
you that my mom was sick? Well, she actually had
cancer and passed away this morning. And well ..... she
was born deaf, so tonight was the first time she had
ever heard me play, and I wanted to make it
special.'
There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As
the people from Social Services led Robby from the
stage to be placed in to foster care, I noticed that
even their eyes were red and puffy. I thought to
myself then how much richer my life had been for taking
Robby as my pupil. No, I have never had a prodigy, but
that night I became a prodigy .... of Robby. He was the
teacher and I was the pupil, for he had taught me the
meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself,
and may be even taking a chance on someone and you
didn't know why.
Robby was killed years later in the senseless
bombing of the Alfred P.
in
I'D LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS TO A SPECIAL COUPLE WHO WAS WITH US LAST YEAR BUT CANNOT THIS YEAR.
18 comments:
Touching. 2 key words, Perseverance and Love. If only we have more in our human heart and head.
malsia1206
Zorro,
Where the hell do get all these beautiful stories. Thank you for sharing them with us.
Happy CNY.
Heart touching.
Normally i read fast but this "soul touching"
rajraman666.Happy CNY Malaysian.
We are racial but not racist.
Thank you.
A tale like no other. A tale of love, perseverance, tolerance, forgiveness. The best ever Chinese new year present in a world gone mad. By the way, pray for Rockybru, a kind soul who has been blinded by greed and power.
Uncle.. a very strong story.. tqvm..
Have a happy CNY.. God bless u..
"Gong Xi Fa Cai" to Zorro and all here.....selamat tahun hari hari mau.
Thanks Bernard. Kongsi Fa Cai!
Zorro,
Wish you and your family Ging Xi Fa Cai.
This story is heart wrenching and goes to show that perseverance and love can make anyone achieve the unachievable. And the moral of the story "always encourage others to aim high' for success.
Kepada Tuan Pengarang Portal Sorro Unmasked,
Salam 1Malaysia,
1.Disini saya ingin memohon jasa baik tuan dalam hal yang berikut.
2.Kita sedar, sudah bertahun tahun, Pak Lah diselar oleh kawan baik diktator diktator sedunia (KBDDS) dalam kes MV Augusta.
3.Sebagai pengenalan, saham MV Augusta, iaitu sebuah syarikat yang mengalamai krisis kewangaan yang teruk dibeli oleh KBDDS pada harga yang cukup tinggi iaitu RM 560 juta. Ini langkah bodoh dan kita tertanya tanya, adakah anak KBDDDS mendapat syer dalam pembeliaan tersebut.
4.Setelah PM-5 mengambil alih, syarikat yang mati tak segan, mampus tak mahu dijual dalam proses bernama divesmen. Ini kerana syarikat tersebut menanggung hutang yg cukup tinggi - iaitu lebith RM 400 yang belum dijelaskan.
5.Mungkin KBDDS tak paham beza membeli saham dengan menanggung hutang.
6.Kemudian KBDDS ni cuba mengungkit cerite lama dalam laman blog haram jadahnya.
7.Lebih lebih lagi ada pengkomentar telah mencabar saya untuk memberi pandangan.
8.I kuota:
By jimi on February 12, 2010 12:24 AM
dearest Tun,
Surely Tun would like to hear advice n views of Wenger J khairy on the subject.He seems to know more on many subjects than Tun.I personally would love to read comments and advice from Wenger J Khairy of the wisdom the previous administration in selling MV Agusta. I could have bought it at RM10 and ask them to keep the change.
Nway,thanks Tun for sharing updating and educating us Malaysians. Tun, you are our most valuable asset.
9.Wenger J. Khairy orang yang pantang dicabar. Lalu saya merungkai segala misteri berkenaaan MV Augsuta dan memaparkan kisahnya dlm bentuk ceramah supaya senang difahami oleh penyokong2 Tun.
10.Saya tidak berkomen panjang lebar dilaman blog haram jadahnya. Saya hanya berkata saya telah menjawab tomahan terkhutuk KBDDS dalam posting saya di Wenger At War.
11.Terpulang kepada para pembaca samada nak terus teruja kepada KBDDS ataupun berdepan dengan "THE TRUTH."
12.Akan tetatpi KBDDS telah menahan komen saya menggunakan ISA. Dia dulu yang komplen tiada diberi wadah untuk bercakap kini menggunakkan taktik lama tidak mahu berdepan dengan kritikan.
13.Ini pendekataan yang cukup bacul.
14. Oleh demikian saya meminta jasa baik tuan untuk memberi pautan kepada cerite tersebut.
Ada dua versi.
Versi Ceramah (baca sambil meghirup mee maggi)
Versi Ringkas (baca sampil kena leter oleh isteri
Terima Kasih,
Saya Yang Pantang Di Cabar
Wenger J Khairy
wah... marah betul wenger j khairy ni, tapi aku rasa uncle zorro tak lah minat sangat dengan caca merba puak bn..., sebab dia dah tahu dari awal lagi berkenaan mv agusta ni
Happy Roaring CNY to you and family, Uncle Zorro!!!
Very moving story. May Perakians also persevere and never, never give up fighting for justice in the Silver State.
In the fight for justice in Perak, the Perakians will never have to walk alone in their fight, millions of Malaysians from all over the country will contribute their support in one way or another to the cause of justice.
And Keong Hee Huat Chye to Uncle Zorro and family.
Dear Zorro,
The gems of the gems ,
Thank you,
Wishing you and everyone a ROAR of a wonderful CNY.
Regard,
I woke up at 4pm this chinese new year day
and your story is an amazing read
there are lessons that i may take from this story
kong hee fa chai to you and all your
good readers
notoktok
touching, touching.
you have a great great new year, you good oldman.
Thanks Uncle Bernard,
The story was touching and portrays what perseverance can do to a person.
By the way Happy Chinese New Year to you and all the people out there.
May the year of the Tiger brings greater tenacity to your fighting spirit and cause for the betterment of mankind.
Happy new year to u and your loved ones.
Gong xi fa chai Uncle Z!
We'll do everything we can so that this SPECIAL COUPLE will make it back home soon.
Let's ride the Tiger till then, shall we?
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