>I am a former elementary school music teacher from >>DeMoines, Iowa. >>I've always supplemented my income by teaching piano >>lessons--something I've done for over 30 years. Over the years I >>found that children have >>many levels of musical ability >> >> >>I've never had the pleasure of having a protégé >>though I have taught some >>talented students. >> >> >>However I've also had my share of what I call >>"musicically challenged" >>pupils. One such student was 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 with his piano lessons and from >>the beginning I thought >>it was a hopeless endeavor. >>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 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'd always say, >>"My mom's going to hear >>me play some day." >>But 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 stopped in. Then >>one day Robby stopped >>coming to our lessons. >>I thought about calling him but assumed, because of >>his >>lack of ability, that he had decided to pursue >>something else. I also was >>glad that he stopped coming. >>He was a bad advertisement for my teaching! Several >>weeks later I mailed to >>the student's homes a flyer on the >>upcoming recital. To my surprise Robby (who >>received a flyer) asked me if >>he could be in the recital. >>I told him that the recital was for current pupils >>and because he had >>dropped out he really did not qualify. >>He said that his mom had been sick and unable to >>take him to piano lessons >>but he was still practicing. >>"Miss Hondorf...I've just got to play!" he insisted. >>I don't know what led >>me to allow him to play in the recital. >>Maybe it was his persistence or maybe it was >>something inside of me saying >>that it would be alright. >>The night for the recital came. The high school >>gymnasium was packed with >>parents, friends and relatives. >>I put Robby up last in the program before I was to >>come up and thank all >>the students and play a finishing piece. >>I thought that any damage he would 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 >>stage. His clothes were >>wrinkled and his hair looked like >>he' run an egg-beater through it. "Why didn't he >>dress 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 he began. I was surprised when he >>announced that he had chosen >>Mozart's Concerto #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 >>people 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've never heard you play like that Robby! How'd >>you do it?" Through the >>microphone Robby explained: >>"Well Miss Hondorf...remember I told you my mom was >>sick? Well actually >>she had cancer and passed away this morning. >>And well....she was born deaf so tonight was the >>first time she ever heard >>me play. 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 into foster care, I noticed that >>even their eyes were >>red and puffy and I thought to myself how much >>richer my life had been for >>taking Robby as my pupil. No, I've never had a >>progege but that night I >>became a protégé...of Robby's. >>He was the teacher and I was the pupil For it is he >>that taught me the >>meaning of perseverance and love and believing in >>yourself and maybe even taking a chance in someone >>and you don't know why. >>This is especially meaningful to me since after >>serving in Desert Storm >>Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the >>Alfred P. Murrah Federal >>Building in Oklahoma City in April of 1995, where he >>was >>reportedly....playing the piano.
u tryin to make me run out of kleenex? That was so sad 
