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Please be patient.......this is a music intensive site, and was created with love, especially for you and me, and I wouldn't want you to miss anything! Please open your browser all the way, and wait until the sound and graphics fully load! Thank you……..Bunny Inspirational pages that encourage love, faith, hope, and charity, toward your fellow man and woman. So many hurting people out there, please pray for them. Robbie Song playing is Mozart's Piano Concerto #21 Can't Hear The Music? Download Windows Media Player. It's Free! A friend sent this to me today, and I wanted to share it with you. At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines, 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 "musically 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 someday." 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 for his 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 students' 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 all right. The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friends, and relatives. I put Robby last in the program just 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 had run an eggbeater 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, sat, and began to play. 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 anyone of 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 prodigy but that night I became a protégé... of Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil. For it is he who taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance on 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 on April 19, 1995, where he was reportedly...playing the piano! This story is possibly fiction, but nevertheless, the thought is beautiful. Web Page by Bunny 7-12-01 Thank you Peggy & Judy.........touching to say the least, and I am sure his mother heard him play for her. Thank you God for letting me make this page If at first you don't succeed, throw away the pain, but keep the lesson.......... I send out a daily mailing called "Bunny's Words." These mailings mainly consist of Christian stories, and other items of interest, with a bit of humor once in awhile. This is material that I receive from others, or find along the way, and feel I want to pass on. Sometimes I will include graphics & lovely links, but basically, what you get is the Word! If you are interested in a spiritual uplift, please join us. Click here to join or cancel Bunny's Words Please specify if you are joining or canceling. Or you can subscribe yourself below Subscribe to Bunnys_Words Powered by groups.yahoo.com To send this page to a friend To email me at any time To go to my main index page, "Welcome To Bunny's Place" click These pages are looped together, so if you click on the "Next Title" each time, it will take you right through them. If at any time you want to get back to the beginning……click the Bunny or ........see below Next: Beautiful Rain Of Thee We Sing The Giving Tree Patience Again Please And Still He Walked Bless You The Touch Of The Master's Hand The Preacher Night Dreams Sing A Song Into The Light Grandpa I Love You A Love To Last No Jacket Required Robbie Reason For Life Beautiful Rain Dear God Popcorn My Prayers Going Home All Is Well Death Is Nothing At All The Apostles Creed Windmill Letter From Jesus A Veteran Died Today Ripples Of Love The Doll And A White Rose Charlie Come Unto Me My Other Websites Welcome To Bunny's Place The Best Of Words Bunny's Nook Bunny's Library Holiday's Links & Awards click this button to donate a free mammogram. The Christians with Chronic Illness/Pain Site Ring This site is owned and maintained by Bunny Disclaimers
Please be patient.......this is a music intensive site, and was created with love, especially for you and me, and I wouldn't want you to miss anything!
Please open your browser all the way, and wait until the sound and graphics fully load! Thank you……..Bunny
Inspirational pages that encourage love, faith, hope, and charity, toward your fellow man and woman.
So many hurting people out there, please pray for them.
Robbie
Song playing is Mozart's Piano Concerto #21
Can't Hear The Music? Download Windows Media Player. It's Free!
A friend sent this to me today, and I wanted to share it with you. At the prodding of my friends, I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Hondorf. I am a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines, 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 "musically 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 someday." 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 for his 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 students' 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 all right. The night for the recital came. The high school gymnasium was packed with parents, friends, and relatives. I put Robby last in the program just 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 had run an eggbeater 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, sat, and began to play. 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 anyone of 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 prodigy but that night I became a protégé... of Robby's. He was the teacher and I was the pupil. For it is he who taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself and maybe even taking a chance on 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 on April 19, 1995, where he was reportedly...playing the piano!
This story is possibly fiction, but nevertheless, the thought is beautiful.
Web Page by Bunny 7-12-01
Thank you Peggy & Judy.........touching to say the least, and I am sure his mother heard him play for her.
Thank you God for letting me make this page
If at first you don't succeed, throw away the pain, but keep the lesson..........
I send out a daily mailing called "Bunny's Words." These mailings mainly consist of Christian stories, and other items of interest, with a bit of humor once in awhile. This is material that I receive from others, or find along the way, and feel I want to pass on. Sometimes I will include graphics & lovely links, but basically, what you get is the Word! If you are interested in a spiritual uplift, please join us.
Click here to join or cancel Bunny's Words Please specify if you are joining or canceling.
Or you can subscribe yourself below
To send this page to a friend
To email me at any time To go to my main index page, "Welcome To Bunny's Place" click
These pages are looped together, so if you click on the "Next Title" each time, it will take you right through them.
If at any time you want to get back to the beginning……click the Bunny or ........see below
Next: Beautiful Rain
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