Spring Piano Recital '18

With preparing for Lexie's graduation I failed to blog about the kids piano recital. It saddens me to write that this will be their last year with Ms. Nora. She was their teacher for three years. She was the most patient teacher that I found for Noah when he was five. He has picked up playing very well, and every now and then will nonchalantly sit at the piano and play all his old songs he learned while being her student. She was a wonderful, patient, kind, fun, loving friend/teacher and she will be missed. 

Chelsea & Noah's Piano Recital '17

This past Sunday Noah and Chelsea had their spring piano recital, and they both gave outstanding performances. I'm so glad that we continued to stay with Ms. Nora because she truly is an amazing piano teacher. We were really impressed with her teaching methods, and after last year's performance we just knew that the 40 minute drive to south jersey will be worth it! The kids love her, and if the drive doesn't wear me out we plan on having her teach them again next school year. 

Chelsea & Noah's Spring Piano Recital '16.

When I first signed Noah up for piano lessons this winter I have to admit I was a bit nervous. Nervous because I didn't think he'd take it seriously. Because when you have boys all they want to do is run, play outside, play with legos, superhero figurines, and transformers! Having three daughters who enjoyed taking lessons gave me hope that Noah would have a deep interest in it, and thanks to their example he does. I've realized that it takes a lot of encouraging, examples, and a lot of positive reactions when one plays for a child to enjoy a hobby. Whether it's a sport, or an instrument. I have developed such a strong passion for having music played in my home, and to see that it keeps my kids grounded (in other words...out of trouble), is something that I hope my kids will carry on throughout their school years. And if they want...all the way into college. 

This year we were very blessed to have a new teacher. We have had wonderful teachers in the past, but sometimes change is good especially when it comes to feeling as if you're child can use it as well as the child themselves. We are very grateful for Ms. Nora's patience, and excellent technique that she taught my kids. Chelsea really has improved on her playing, and Noah picked it up really quick! I was really impressed with Nora, and my kids as their lessons were always, always pleasant, and to feel a happiness among her tiny music room was the icing on the cake. We will definitely miss her. 

16 students performed on this day, and everyone played very well. Noah was the first one to go up, and he went up like he didn't have a care in the world. He even had a little strut. I asked him afterwards if he was scared, and he just shook his head, and said "no." He's pretty bold, and fearless, and hope that he will use his fearlessness for good at all times. You can watch him play his sweet little song called "Happy Days" (so suitable for him) here. (I also snapchatted a bit and if you want to follow along and view my stories my user name is r_jorgensen). I love his grin as he looks right at me towards the end. He certainly knows where mom is holding the camera. 

As always when it comes to recitals I always want to respect others, and not want to distract so I only captured a few photos. Students were running late, and so it was mandatory that I had to capture the looks on my kids faces as they were waiting. Although they were waiting patiently I'm sure half of this group was thinking, "can we hurry up already, and get this over with", or maybe they were thinking the exact opposite such as, "take your time people. We are in no hurry!"

Chelsea was one of the last students to play, and she did really well. You can watch her play her Sontina piece here. 

I was really impressed with the nice awards that were given, and the sweet comments Ms. Nora gave to her students as she was handing them out. 

 Noah was so cute as he was the first one to receive it. This is the time were I wish I would have captured him in video so y'all can see him in action!

So proud of these kids for all their efforts when it came to endless practicing. I keep reminding them that practice makes perfect, and as long as you do that every day you can become the best pianist there is. 

Such a beautiful way to have spent our Sabbath day by attending our kids recital. I'm so proud of them, and hope that we will be blessed to find another teacher who is just as awesome as Ms. Nora once the school year begins again. 

Congratulations kiddos! Keep up the hard work, and never stop playing. Music truly is our everything when it comes to our needs. it relaxes the should, and eases the mind. Especially when it's played inside our home! 

Spring Piano Recital '11

The Jorgensen girls played exceptionally well at their spring recital this evening. This was our first time having all of our girls perform together. It's so nice to have harmonious kids who LOVE to play the piano. The last time Sierra played on a Steinway was five years ago in Utah. She LOVED performing on this piano, and as soon as she set her fingers on the Steinway, she forgot how heavy the keys are compared to ours. Lexie and Chelsea enjoyed playing on it as well. They are grateful for having a piano in our house (even if it isn't a Steinway.)

We heard various students play pieces by Faber, Christopher Goldston, Stephen Foster, Gurlitt, Beethoven, and a lot of traditional music. At the end of the recital, their piano teacher also played a piece by Chopin, and one of her own pieces she wrote which she played beautifully.

 I have to say that there was no watching television in our house for the past two weeks (not that we ever do anyway!) They all worked really hard on their pieces. Chelsea played Twinkle, twinkle little star by Faber. This was her first recital and she did very well. She walked up to that piano fearless as if she owned it! Alexandra played a piece by Mozart, and a beautiful piece by Dennis Alexander titled, "Just For You." This piece was very moving and it definitely was meant "just for her" to play.

Sierra was the last one to perform. Of course, the last one to perform always has the more advanced pieces which is impressive. She played Prelude 3: Agitato by Gershwin, and Prelude in C sharp minor by Rachmaninoff. Those pieces require a lot of hard work and lots of practicing. She was so nervous and worried because for the past two weeks, she didn't put a lot of time into practicing her pieces. The past two weeks were trying for her because of school projects and a midterm literary paper due at the end of the week! Going out of town for four days during our spring break didn't help in her not practicing either. Unfortunately there was no piano available at the hotels we stayed at. She did her very best on catching up and practicing her pieces these past couple of days, and she did extremely well. One thing a lot of Sierra's previous teachers admired about her was once they'd tell her to work on a piece...she would return to the next lesson perfecting it and playing it even better.


Alicia Keys said, "But when I first fell in love with the piano, I knew it was me. I was dying to play." This quote reminds me of the first time we bought a piano ten years ago and only had Sierra playing at the time. She immediately fell in love with the piano and couldn't take her fingers off of it. Her sisters are the same way. They all have a talent and I hope that they will continue to play the piano and violin for as long as they desire. I am so pleased with my girls and for the love that they each have with music. Whether they end up playing it professionally or for pleasure... I hope that they will always be motivated to play, and that the music will never end in our home.

Rikki Hein and pianists

"You are the music while the music lasts."

~T.S. Eliot