Pay It Forward

Summer in Texas. Yeah, it's hot, but what's cool is that you don't have to rush around so much, and there's more time to do the stuff you like to do.  For my girls, that's most definitely their music.  This past Saturday, they took part in a rock performance for their music academy.  As you've probably seen here, they've performed many times before.  You could say they're no strangers to the stage.  But this time was a little different, and a lot cooler.


My girls have been playing an instrument of some kind or another since they were six years old.  In their early recitals, they would come home in awe of many of the older students who were really great at piano.  They looked up to them and would talk about them for quite some time after a recital.  When they got a little older, they started working on some of the songs that they had heard them play.  Now, the tables are turned.


As some of the more experienced students in their music program, Annie and Kate had the honor of being student teachers in this weekend’s recital.  They got to lead many of the more junior students in what was many of their very first performances in public.  As the night went on, they also performed together as a duet, then with their three bands, and ended the evening with a musical jam session with whoever wanted to participate.  They got on the stage, and never left until the end. 


As Annie and Kate’s mom, I could not have been any prouder.  Proud to see them perform on their own, of course.  Proud to see them perform with their bands, as always.  But this time, and perhaps more importantly, I was very proud to see them "pay it forward" -- for being so giving with their time and talents to help others in their musical endeavors. Music is a special gift that my daughters have been given, and it meant so much to me to see them share that with others.  Way to go, girls!

-- S

“Sail beyond the horizon; fly higher than you ever thought possible; magnify your existence by helping others; be kind to people and animals of all shapes and sizes; be true to what you value most; shine your light on the world; and be the person you were born to be.” -- Blake Beattie

Annie, in her first piano recital (December 2005). 

Kate at her first piano recital (December 2005).  She and Annie were six years old.

Annie & Kate, in a duet performance on Saturday. 

Beginner guitar students with whom Annie and Kate performed.  Most of them are going into 3rd, 4th, 5th grade.

Kate and Mason G. performing Drops of Jupiter with Speed Limit 180.

Annie on both guitar and flute during a music jam session after the performance.

Speed Limit 180:  Kate (drums and vocals), Mason M. (lead guitar), Annie (rhythm guitar and vocals), Legend (bass), and Mason G. (vocals).