ROBBY'S NIGHT By Valmiki Faleiro

ROBBY'S NIGHT
By Valmiki Faleiro

This Easter day, may I share with you an old internet story. I have abridged the original, to size it to this column’s space… My name’s Mildred Hondorf. I’m a music teacher from Des Moines, Iowa-USA. I've been teaching piano for over 30 years. Over time, I’ve found that children have many levels of musical ability. I've never had the pleasure of a child prodigy, though I have taught some talented students. I've also had my share of "musically challenged" pupils.

One such student was Robby. He was 11, when his mother, a single mom, dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer students begin at an earlier age (especially boys!), which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano. That made me take him as a student. I later realised it was a hopeless endeavor. Much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm. But, he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary pieces that I require all my students to learn. He struggled over the months. I cringed. At the end of each lesson he'd say, "My mom's going to hear me play someday." It seemed hopeless. He just didn’t have any inborn ability.

I knew his mother from a distance. She dropped Robby and picked him up in heraged car. She smiled and waved, but never stepped in. Then one day Robby stopped coming. I thought it was because of his lack of ability. Was I glad he stopped – he was a bad advertisement for my teaching! Some time later, I mailed all students a flyer on an upcoming recital. To my surprise, Robby asked if he could be in the recital. I told him the recital was for current pupils and he didn’t qualify. He said his mother had been sick and unable to take him to piano lessons, but he was still practicing. "Miss Hondorf, please, I must play!" I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital. But I put Robby last in the program, before I went on stage to thank everybody and play a finishing piece. I thought any damage Robby would do could be salvaged through my ’curtain closer.’

The night for the recital came. The school gym was packed with parents and relatives.The recital went off without a hitch. The students had been practicing and it showed. Then came Robby’s turn. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked like he'd run an eggbeater through it. "Why didn't his mother groom him for this special night," I thought. Robby pulled out the piano bench and he began.

I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen Mozart's Concerto #21 in C Major. I wasn’t prepared for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo. From allegro to virtuoso. His suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent! Never had I heard Mozart played so well by people his age.

After six and a half minutes, he ended in a grand crescendo and everyone was on their feet in wild applause. Overcome and in tears, I ran up on stage and put my arms around Robby in joy. "I've never heard you play like that Robby ! How'd you do it?" Unaware the microphone was on, Robby explained: "Well, Miss Hondorf, remember I told you my mom was sick? She actually had cancer and passed away this morning. And, well … she was born deaf so tonight was the first time she’d ever hear me play. I wanted to make it special. " There wasn't a dry eye that evening, as the Social Services people led Robby to fo ster care. Robby was killed in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April-1995. (ENDS.)

The Valmiki Faleiro weekly column.

Free Health Seminar in Kuwait

The Indian Women’s Association (IWA) is a team of dedicated ladies with a mission to “Lend a Helping Hand”. As a part of our humanitarian and community service we have crossed several goals and pledge to carry on our obligation to society in Kuwait. We have widened our range of community care and embarked upon health awareness campaign under the banner “Reach for Health”. Earlier we had conducted a health awareness seminar for women at the Kuwait Medical Association (KMA), where women were educated about breast cancer, birth control, menopause and cosmetic surgery.

To continue this campaign we are conducting another such seminar on women’s health issues for the public again at the Kuwait Medical Association Hall, Jabriya at 5 pm. on 18th April 2009.

Topics for lecture are:

Jade Goody Story - Cervical Cancer - Dr Essam Abul Fotooh, Consultant Obs/Gynae, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Al Hadi Hospital

A D – Lightful story by Dr. Nadia Al-Ali, Consultant Endocrinologist, Chairperson, Department of Medicine, Amiri Hospital

Brain Attack by Dr. Riyad Ahmed Khan, Head of Dept. of Neurology, Ibn Sina Hospital

To know more details and to confirm your attendance you can email iwa_kuwait@hotmail.com or call either Surayya at 66554724 between 9 am – 2 pm or Jagga at 24920271/2 ext 116 or at 25623389.

Posted by:
The Management
Indian Women's Association (IWA)