It's Liz here, back from my blogging break. Greg and I had a marvelous time yesterday playing for elementary school students in Queens. Just to give a bit of background, I am a teaching artist fellow of The Academy - A Program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and The Weill Music Institute, and as part of this exciting program I teach music at The Abigail Adams School, PS 131Q. For a special end-of-the-year presentation, I decided to bring my trusty companion Greg along, and we performed in two consecutive assemblies for kids in grades K-5. The auditorium was set up with a baby grand piano and the upright from the music room so we had the option of playing some two-piano music in addition to our four-hand fare.
Some especially memorable moments: the students responding to my greeting with a collective chorus of "Good morning, Miss Roe!"; the crowd getting really excited when Assistant Principal Frank Headley announced that Greg and I attended a Harry Potter movie premiere and met the stars; the kids clamoring to guess which animals were being represented in our Carnival of the Animals finale; the effectively rattling sounds of the Danse macabre on the rickety pianos; the eager applause that erupted while we were still playing; the question-and-answer session at the end of each assembly; Mr. Headley's inspiring wrap-up comments on the school's motto of "excellence for everyone." On a personal note, I have had such an enriching and enjoyable experience teaching at this school, and Greg and I always love working with young people. If only as adults we can maintain that level of openness, curiosity and wonder.