After Leif's graduation ceremony he took me back stage in the school hall and pulled back the covers on the Kawai grand piano. He sat down, and without the 
benefit of any music in front of him he proceeded to play. I was entranced, but he, being a perfectionist, apologized for the 
imperfections. He said he would do better with music to read. Maybe so, but the music that he played was to me extraordinary for the beautiful surprise it represented. I had not heard him playing music for some time and it is plain that in the meantime he has discovered the most important ingredient - passion and real enjoyment of playing music.
After I took photographs I recorded him playing on my camera. It is not a perfect recording, but it has captured some of the magic of the moment. The recording is 4 minutes and 42 seconds long.
That was exemplary piano skills Leif has demonstrated. Indeed, very sensitive hands of a pianist. It's quite amusing there are pictures of his hands poised, above the keyboard of the piano itself, and that's how I became enlightened to the fact I can never play like that! You've got a very talented, intelligent and overall AWESOME son.
(from a friend-of-Leif's)
Posted by: Jules | October 03, 2007 at 11:48 AM
It is easy as a parent to have unjustified pride in one's children just because you love them. But I think objectively there is ample reason to be proud of Leif. Is he perfect? No. But he exhibited some marvelous qualities this night in his confident bearing, his thoughtfulness, and the way he approached the piano playing. He needs to keep going with this, it is something that enriches his life in ways he cannot imagine yet, but I can see him developing a beautiful relationship with a piano.
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Posted by: chatroom | June 04, 2011 at 05:19 PM
Incredible young man with his piano will create a magical voice.
Posted by: vimax | June 16, 2011 at 02:32 PM