Mackenzie Shivers
Tha-Thump
A failed audition helps a performer learn a lesson and receive a gift.
Tha-thump, tha-thump, the music of fear pulling at my heart every second my big audition came closer.
It was a Sunday morning and I was eleven years old. It was after church, and I was waiting for my parents to stop socializing. I had my Italian music in my hand, called Ma Come Bali Beli Bella Bimba, a mouthful right? I decided that I was going to memorize this piece. Which was going to be a challenge. In choir, we were only learning how to pronounce the words. So, I decided, I'm going to learn the rest of the words, the tune, and memorize it for my audition, La Pagliana and Rigoletto.
Still sitting in the car, with my music almost memorized, my dad comes closer, and closer to the car. The butterflies in my chest started fluttering around, their wings beat faster, and faster, turning into birds. The nervousness took ahold of me.
My dad got in the car and told me normal things a parent would say, “You're going to do great, and you are sharing a gift with the judges. You're going to have so much fun, and learn a lesson through this experience!”
These words gave me courage, and I took a deep breath. We began our hour drive to where the audition took place.
The Webster College building came into view, and the gray bricks were shining bright. Who knew bricks could shine! When we entered into the building, I opened the glass doors and found an arrow pointing to the elevator. I pressed the button and went inside, as we went up my stomach dropped, Ten minutes until my audition, ten minutes!
How was I supposed to do this? As we entered the waiting room, there was a long hallway with chairs and people sitting. I could hear my friend Fiona singing, “The hills are alive with the sound of music…” I knew Fiona was really good, she was confident, and her presence on stage was powerful. This made me even less confident in myself. My blood turned as I sat down, waiting. Then Fiona opened the door with a creak and pointed to me,
“Your turn.” Okay, right.
I walked in, and gave the music to the piano player. As I got into place, I realized that I knew all three judges. It was my previous director, my choir director, and choir teacher. They knew the song I was performing so that meant if I messed up, well, that would be a problem.
The music started and everything was going great, then the nerves got the best of me. I forgot the next part of the song, and soon the words were jumbled in my head. I could no longer pick out what came next.
I started making up words like, “Watalia, smalia, varda, semia.” It was bad!
All of a sudden my choir director said, “Stop.”
The whole world froze. Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump!
“You messed up.” That's right I did mess up.
“Why don't you start again and sing “Oh, Beautiful” instead.” Alright, I know that song. Sure I'll sing that.
As I waited to sing, my previous director flipped the pages in front of him looking at the next person, showing me that he was done. I heard a cough from the hallway. Okay, you can do this, I reassured myself.
I began “Oh Beautiful,” water collected behind my eyes. Knowing that all that time I spent with my dad, all that time at home, after school, in the shower practicing the song, I had failed. And now these judges saw my failure, and soon my dad would know about it too.
As I finished the song they said thank you. I opened the door with a creek and pointed to the next person, “Your turn.”
I didn't even acknowledge my dad. I wasn't about to break down in the waiting room. I went to the elevator, my dad knowing something was up.
He started comforting me saying, “You know if you messed up, you messed up. It was a lesson in auditioning, and next time you'll do better.” I shook my head and got into the car.
A few months later, after a long day helping in the daycare. I came to the kitchen and my dad had the biggest grin on his face, and my sister was jumping up and down.
My dad pulled out a letter, and read, “Congratulations you made it into La Pagliana and Rigolette.”
I couldn't believe it. I completely failed my audition, but I realized that in life you will have ups and downs, but by being able to push through the challenge, I was able to receive a lesson and a gift.
It was a Sunday morning and I was eleven years old. It was after church, and I was waiting for my parents to stop socializing. I had my Italian music in my hand, called Ma Come Bali Beli Bella Bimba, a mouthful right? I decided that I was going to memorize this piece. Which was going to be a challenge. In choir, we were only learning how to pronounce the words. So, I decided, I'm going to learn the rest of the words, the tune, and memorize it for my audition, La Pagliana and Rigoletto.
Still sitting in the car, with my music almost memorized, my dad comes closer, and closer to the car. The butterflies in my chest started fluttering around, their wings beat faster, and faster, turning into birds. The nervousness took ahold of me.
My dad got in the car and told me normal things a parent would say, “You're going to do great, and you are sharing a gift with the judges. You're going to have so much fun, and learn a lesson through this experience!”
These words gave me courage, and I took a deep breath. We began our hour drive to where the audition took place.
The Webster College building came into view, and the gray bricks were shining bright. Who knew bricks could shine! When we entered into the building, I opened the glass doors and found an arrow pointing to the elevator. I pressed the button and went inside, as we went up my stomach dropped, Ten minutes until my audition, ten minutes!
How was I supposed to do this? As we entered the waiting room, there was a long hallway with chairs and people sitting. I could hear my friend Fiona singing, “The hills are alive with the sound of music…” I knew Fiona was really good, she was confident, and her presence on stage was powerful. This made me even less confident in myself. My blood turned as I sat down, waiting. Then Fiona opened the door with a creak and pointed to me,
“Your turn.” Okay, right.
I walked in, and gave the music to the piano player. As I got into place, I realized that I knew all three judges. It was my previous director, my choir director, and choir teacher. They knew the song I was performing so that meant if I messed up, well, that would be a problem.
The music started and everything was going great, then the nerves got the best of me. I forgot the next part of the song, and soon the words were jumbled in my head. I could no longer pick out what came next.
I started making up words like, “Watalia, smalia, varda, semia.” It was bad!
All of a sudden my choir director said, “Stop.”
The whole world froze. Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump!
“You messed up.” That's right I did mess up.
“Why don't you start again and sing “Oh, Beautiful” instead.” Alright, I know that song. Sure I'll sing that.
As I waited to sing, my previous director flipped the pages in front of him looking at the next person, showing me that he was done. I heard a cough from the hallway. Okay, you can do this, I reassured myself.
I began “Oh Beautiful,” water collected behind my eyes. Knowing that all that time I spent with my dad, all that time at home, after school, in the shower practicing the song, I had failed. And now these judges saw my failure, and soon my dad would know about it too.
As I finished the song they said thank you. I opened the door with a creek and pointed to the next person, “Your turn.”
I didn't even acknowledge my dad. I wasn't about to break down in the waiting room. I went to the elevator, my dad knowing something was up.
He started comforting me saying, “You know if you messed up, you messed up. It was a lesson in auditioning, and next time you'll do better.” I shook my head and got into the car.
A few months later, after a long day helping in the daycare. I came to the kitchen and my dad had the biggest grin on his face, and my sister was jumping up and down.
My dad pulled out a letter, and read, “Congratulations you made it into La Pagliana and Rigolette.”
I couldn't believe it. I completely failed my audition, but I realized that in life you will have ups and downs, but by being able to push through the challenge, I was able to receive a lesson and a gift.