Following our winter recitals in Cambridge this past February, I had no doubt in my mind that the days of all-student performances in my home were numbered. That’s not to say that the homey vibe, so well-rehearsed and beloved in our neighborhood of Jamaica Plain, will not be missed. One of my favorite things about raising kids in JP was sweaty preschool graduations cradling little ones in laps (hoping the kid on that lap, whether or not your own, was content to sit there). Similarly for piano events, we threw open windows in my dining room behind six mismatched rows crammed in perpendicular to four other rows, all with at least a 3/4 view of the keys. Grandparents graciously joined the fray, and parents beamed and subtly pressed the edge our seats. Recitals could be scary. Performances could be cold. So the home recitals presented an aspirational blend of informal formality – excellence within acceptance.

What Covid silver linings came our way, to create in my mind an appreciation for a large hall with beautiful windows, comfortable chairs, and a Steinway Grand for our performances? It was the actual air, for one plain thing. Filters in the church hall and space to distance our chairs made everyone feel, for the moment, a bit reassured our gathering would not become a sickness spreader. The piano itself was one of the stars of the day, with acoustic clouds atop the ceiling showing off even the notes whispered in pianissimo on this fine instrument.

And best of all, it was that we could fully see each other, could sit in supportive attention before and after, could loudly applaud without ringing in another’s ears, and could all line up once done to see our community take a bow together. Several parents gushed about the new gathering, even longtime families who’d come to the homey events with much enthusiasm. Pianists were generally passionate about the space and the special feelings of performance, “voting” we definitely meet there again next time.

It’s true, some of us played our best and some did not that day, which is just the way performance goes and rarely a concern for me. It was an impressive accomplishment just to play publicly for 50 others, after two years of playing for our laptops. My goal of having a teaching practice aimed for both excellence and acceptance remains strong. Our initial foray into an occasional weekend workshop went extremely well, and so we’ll beat that drum to meet informally and communally. With this balance, I hope many will soar and have seen the effort and love for piano already climb since spring began.

Come June 5th at our spring recitals, the event will not have that unique electricity of early emergence from pandemic. But I am thrilled to welcome us back together to celebrate our learning and love for our shared instrument, which sustains us through joys and sorrows. Like sudden key changes or trills, the shifts in life may come unexpectedly, but with practice, navigated to produce a rich and layered beauty.

Congratulations to all who invest in our piano endeavors!