On our way home after church one day, Lona said that she wanted to have a recital for some of her friends.  It turned out that they were taking music lesson for both the piano and the violin but didn't have recitals so there wasn't as much motivation for practicing.  Heck, if I don't have to perform or have a dead line I wouldn't get things done and neither would my kids.  That is totally understandable.  Lona decided though that it couldn't be that hard to put on a recital.  She called the church and scheduled a day.  Then she made a list of her friends who she knew were taking music lessons.  She emailed them about the recital.  She contacted the person in charge of sound who happened to be her dad.  She made a list of everything that needed to get done.  I helped with that part.  She emailed her friends again, and again, and again.  Then she started to call everyone.  She needed definite answers.  She put together a program with names of participants and their instruments, and song titles.  She wrote a speech for both the opening remarks and the closing remarks.  We made a trip into Bellingham to purchase refreshments and cookies for the evening.  Then at the end, she had everyone sing to her friend who's birthday was that day.  Lona was hoping for 30 people but it was just the families of the participants.  Thats ok though.
Here are her speeches:

welcome speech

Welcome everyone to our first music recital. The purpose of this recital is to motivate people and to get them looking forward to a big day! It's not just piano, It is a multitude of many other different  instruments. We have: Piano, Violin, Guitar and Drums!!!  There are also many teachers represented by their students here today. Before the Musicians start playing I am going to have them go up to the microphone and state their name and teacher,  how long they have been playing their instrument/ instruments what the song is and who it is by. Great let's get started!

Thanks

I would like to thank you so much for coming to this recital. It has been a real blast setting this up and having everyone come and Play in This. I would like to thank Pastor Dax Swanson, Karen Anderson, All the kids, Parents and last but not least I would like to thank Grace Church Bellingham. There is still a piece of music that is not listed on the program, Today is Ellie Wrights Birthday today, Could you all stand and join in and sing Happy Birthday to Ellie Wright.                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 

That ends our music for today, There are refreshments in the kitchen. thank you

And the program

Opening remarks

Musicians

                                            

Danica Wright........................................................  Piano: "Homage to Pachelbel"  by Jonathan Delbridge

                                                                                           Violin: "When I Survey the  Wondrous Cross"  Unknown                                                                                                                                                 

 Ellie Wright..................................................................................  Piano: "Good Time Boogie"  by Unknown

                                                                                                   Violin: "Ode to joy" by Beethoven

Jonathan Wright.......................................................................  Violin: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" by Unknown

Lona Parks.................................................................................."Piano: The Pink Panther Theme" by Henry Mancini

                                                                                                 "The Fiddle Tune"  by Martha Mier

Abbey Drury................................................................................  Solfeggietto  by Carl Phillipp Emanuel Bach

Mike Sutherland......................................................................  Drums: Over and Over  by Three Days Grace

Kylee Johnson................................................................................ Piano: “The Bubble” by Crystal Bowman

                                                                                                      “Bells! Bells! Bells!” by Unknown

Kylee Johnson and Lona Parks.............Piano: duet:" Russian Sailor Dance"  Traditional Russian folk song

Ending remarks

I would like to thank Pastor Dax Swanson, Karen Anderson, All the kids, Parents and last but not least I would like to thank Grace Church Bellingham

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (Cookies and drinks are available in the kitchen)

I wish I would have video taped her speeches.  When it was all over she decided that she wanted to do it again next year and make formal invites for people.  She's hoping that more people can participate and have a larger audience.  We'll see what the next year brings.  She did most of the work by herself.  She needed reminders and needed help thinking things through but most of the work was done by her.  I didn't get any photos of anyone playing the piano, they were hidden.  I think that next time the piano should be turned so we can see them play.  I'm sure there are other things that need to be done differently and each year we'll get better at it if there is a next year.