Christmas Performances 2011

2011 brought the opportunity for Caleb to give many Christmas performances.  He got to play at Maceys once again during the holiday season.  

This time he shared some of his time performing with his brother and sisters.

Sometimes he would accompany on piano while his brother played guitar,

sometimes he would accompany his sister with her violin,

sometimes he would accompany his littlest sister while she sang,

and sometimes it would just be Caleb.

Here is a video of one of his songs as we set the camera up on one of the check stands so you can see what it was like as people passed by.

He had so much fun and earned some nice tip money to put in the bank to pay for college.

Besides Maceys, Caleb played at a nursing home for his great grandma, and also he was invited to perform at a church Christmas party to be in charge of all the entertainment.  

They even asked him to play in church on Christmas Sunday.  We couldn't record in church, but here is the song he played that we recorded of him playing it the day before at Maceys:

It really was a great holiday for Caleb!

Concert with Josh Wright

Caleb's favorite concert pianist (next to his teacher of course), Josh Wright came to play a Christmas concert for his church.  Caleb was lucky enough to go.  He got to hear both Josh and his wife, Lindsey, play some wonderful songs.  Josh and Lindsey have always been so nice to Caleb and they are great role models to look up to.  Caleb loves to mix up classical songs with other songs, just like Josh does.  

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.