The Life of a Pianist... or, Kill Me Now.

So, as I've said, I am the Music Director at SOCSA. Well, they hired me for a show they do called Broadway Night, which is like a cabaret of solos and group numbers that the kids put together. I got the music over the weekend - which basically means I am sight reading a show of about 30 pieces. Granted, my boss Ray steps in and plays a few that are impossible for me (ie, anything from Legally Blonde... I hate that music for piano).

Anyway, Ray and I have separate binders of music and we usually trade off and play from our own books. I think this is a pain and that we should have one book, but I learned my lesson last night.

We got to the middle of Act 2, and Shannon's solo came up - "I Miss the Mountains" from Next to Normal. I couldn't find it in my book, so I just told Ray I'd use his - it wasn't a big deal.

I forgot that halfway through the song there was a modulation that I had only written into my music.

Oops.

Scariest moment of my life - realizing that there was a key change and that I didn't have in my music at all.

So I transposed on sight. I have never, ever done this in my life, especially not at a PERFORMANCE.

That poor girl made it through SO well, because I was somewhat of a mess until about the last 16 bars. But she just kept going and never faltered. So proud of her.

And somehow... I'm proud of myself, because I didn't stop playing, I kept going, and I managed to transpose that last 16 bars on sight - when I had finally just FOCUSED and forced myself to do it.

The funny thing about this job is that I am constantly being pushed past what I think my "limit" as a pianist is, and I am put in positions where I have no choice but to do more than what I think I am capable of.

And somehow I always pull through.

It doesn't mean that I don't want to die while it's going on.

Well... I love my job. I can't even think about anything else while shows are going on because it's so stressful for me. But... man, am I learning a lot.

And I guess I'm a better pianist than I thought I was.

Thanks, SOCSA.