Biggest Instrument

On Wednesday, the grade 3s had their first ever concert (for their parents).  The next day, I was talking with a violinist from the junior quartet (grade 5).

Girl: How was the grade 3 concert?
Me: It was good.
Girl: Now, be honest - did some of them sound terrible?
Me: Ummm... I don't think so... But I couldn't hear all of them, so I can't say with certainty.
Girl: Oh, now, are they going to play for the grade 2s at the end of the year?
Me: Yes.
Girl: Man, I loved that!  It got me so pumped up!  I really wanted to play the double bass.  I wanted to play the biggest instrument in the class.
Me: So, uh, how's that working out for you?
Girl: Yeah.  Not so great.

We're Coming to Your Concert!

On Saturday, I was in a chamber music concert.  So, I told pretty much everyone I know - including my school quartets - that it was on.  To the juniors, I gave flyers as I don't have all their email addresses just yet.  Last week, then - after the obligatory "Let's scare the life out of our teacher as she arrives" - there were clamouring voices.

Girls: Ooh, ooh - we're coming to your concert! - Oh yeah, we're coming too!
Violin 1: My mum wants to go, so I get to go too!
Viola: My mum? She just wants to know a couple of things?  Here!  She wrote down the questions on the form.  Answer the questions!  [I wrote down answers]  So, last night, I practiced... [pause]
Me: Um... that's great! [I really thought there was going to be more of that sentence]
Viola: Yeah.  [nodding vigorously]  Oh!  Yeah, that's when I saw the note.  And showed it to her.  [very excited] So we should be coming, because mum and dad really want to go!

Concert Absence

I'd been working towards a concert performance with a 15-yr-old girl.  For about a month, our focus had been the upcoming performance.  Then, with no explanation, she just didn't show.  In the lesson after, I asked her about it.

Me: What happened to you last week?  With the concert?
Girl: I'm so sorry!  I just ... forgot!  I walked home, and then... went... oh yeah...

Music Critic

16-yr-old girl, who has season tickets to QSO, and takes scores along with her of the relevant works.

Girl: Oh, the QSO concert was terrible!  The conductor didn't have a clear beat at all, he was just [waves arms in a circular, egg-beater pattern]...
Me: Like a choral conductor?
Girl: There was just... no beat!  And he didn't bring in the strings, and because he had no beat they had no idea, only the cellos managed to come in in time.  [pause - then, a little apologetically]  I feel like such a hypocrite sometimes, being so critical of others when I can't play that well.
Me: But they're professionals, they're meant to get it right.
Girl [brightening]: Well, yeah.
Me: Have you thought about being a music critic?
Girl [gasping, wide-eyed with delight]: That's an actual job?!?!  That would be awesome!!! And perfect for me!

Concerts

11-yr-old girl, in the middle of playing something, stopped and asked, rather urgently:

Girl: Oh!  Did you go to the Coldplay concert?
Me: Um...No... Did you?
Girl [dejected]: No...  So now I have to wait another 3 years for the next one. 
Me: Ah, yeah... that's really ... sad...
Girl [energetic again]: Ooh, One Direction?
Me: Ah, no.  You?
Girl [shaking head]: No.
Me: Is this a sad shake of your head?
Girl [surprised]: Yes!
Me: Um... Okay... That's... sad... for you... I guess.

She shook her head in a "You've just got no idea but I'm an 11-yr-old girl so you should listen to me" way, and kept playing from where she'd left off before. 

Mahler's Tenor Horns

This grade 11 girl went to the Mahler 7 concert recently, equipped with the score and friends with the score.

Girl [in lesson]: I just don't understand why Mahler uses the tenor horn there.  It makes no sense.  You can't hear it... wait... tenor horn? [she pulls out her phone and checks the score on her phone - yes, really]. Yeah.  Tenor horn.  I mean, really!

At lunch, she barged into my room.

Girl [quite excited]: I had a realisation!  I worked out why Mahler uses the tenor horn.  It's for [pauses slightly] Dramatic Effect.  .... Yeah!