Another Win for Musical Composition!

Caleb wrote another song and entered it in his school's musical composition category of their Arts Contest, and he won!  This is the 3rd year in a row that Caleb has won for musical composition.  Now his song will go on to compete for best in region.  

He wrote kind of a different kind of song, but here he is performing what he calls

"The Battle of Diversity":

                              

Winter Recital 2011

This last week Caleb had his winter piano recital.  It is always held at a fancy house up in the hills.  

This year we were lucky and Caleb wasn't sick.  Last year's recital he had been sick throwing up all day, but still insisted on going.    

He played Debussy's Cakewalk:

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It is a familiar piece to many.  

Caleb had most fun posing for "action shots" on their grand piano.

Think of Me.....Caleb turns 9!

Caleb has gotten so old now!  We can't believe he has turned 9 years old!  It seems like only yesterday that he was a cute little 4 year old crawling up on the piano bench and teaching himself how to play.  

He had a lot of fun at his birthday photo shoot throwing sheet music around trying to make it artsy.  

Sometimes we've wondered if he was going to lose interest in piano or get sick of practicing, but it seems like his love for piano continues.  His sight reading is incredible.  He can pick up most piano arrangements and just play right off.  

Lately, he has been having fun with some easier arrangements.  He borrowed a book from his friend Dorothy who he played the duet with and played some music from Phantom of the Opera.

Here is "Think of Me":

Church Duet with Dorothy

This past Sunday Caleb was finally able to play the duet in church with his friend Dorothy who plays the flute.  She came over to practice on Saturday night so we could get a video:

On Sunday morning Caleb woke up early sick and throwing up!  We didn't know what to do.  We didn't want to upset Dorothy.  We knew she had invited lots of her family to come hear her play, and Caleb wanted to play as well.

Luckily, Caleb went back to bed and slept for a few hours.  When he woke up, he was feeling somewhat better and he wanted to go to church, so we let him get dressed and get ready to go.  He didn't feel the best, but he went and played and they both sounded great!  

Many people were commenting and asking us what was wrong with Caleb.  "Did performing make him so nervous that he got sick now?"   "Did he not like to play in church anymore?"  No.  He was just sick and worn out a bit.  We took him home afterward and he rested.  Caleb still loves to play and he doesn't get nervous or sick before a performance.  It has seemed like there have been a few times when Caleb has gotten sick the weekend of a competition or recital.  Just coincidences though.  We think he has a somewhat  sensitive stomach and usually the days he's gotten sick he has had a lot of junk to eat.  Caleb is still learning that he can't eat so much sugar or sweets or rich foods so much.   

Hoping for A Church Duet

Caleb loves playing in church, and he also loves playing with other people.  He has a friend who can play the flute very well.  So a little while ago, he found a church song that was written for a piano and flute to play together.  He was excited to start practicing with his friend.  He hoped that they could play it together in church sometime soon.  

We don't have video of them playing together just yet, but here is what Caleb's part sounds like:

It is so pretty when they play together.  We will have to wait and see if they can play it in church together.  I guess there has to be special approval to use certain instruments and they aren't sure if they will be allowed to have a flute during services.  We will see.  They continue to practice and have fun.  

Caleb's Fall Recital

 

Caleb had his fall piano recital last week.  He was supposed to have piano lessons at 4:30 but then the recital didn't start until 7, so there was some time to kill in between.  Caleb takes piano lessons downtown and his recital was going to be downtown at the University, so it wasn't worth the time and gas to drive back home in between.  

We went to Paradise Bakery and got some dinner before the recital.

Caleb loves their cookies!

Caleb is working on a fugue, a concerto, and a piece by Debussy right now, but he isn't quite finished learning them, so for his recital he played a song he learned back in the summertime by Schubert.  

Here he is playing March Militaire:

He made a few little mistakes, but overall a good performance.

Caleb's Special Birthday Present for His Mom

It was Caleb's mommy's birthday and besides being cute, he really wanted to give her a special birthday present.  She really liked this song by Ben Folds called "The Luckiest".  It had really pretty piano music and Caleb's daddy liked to sing it to his mom as well.  

We found the piano sheet music, and so Caleb began practicing to be ready for her birthday.  At first, just Caleb's daddy was going to sing, but in the end, Caleb really wanted to join in on the song.  

Here is Caleb's present to his mommy: