Another piano duet

Well, Mom, Mariel and I have started practicing our Christmas song! Keep in mind that this is the first practice of the year, so please disregard any mistakes.

And if you can't tell, Mariel is slamming the kitchen cupboards to recreate the sound of the whip that usually accompanies this song. The first time she did it a couple of years ago it was a completely hilarious surprise, and we have kept the tradition going strong every year since. It still cracks us up, though-you may be able to notice our laughter.

Our little duet

Four gals and a guy

Tonight I will divulge a musical talent (it's not really a talent. It's a bad habit) that I have acquired. But first, I will tell a story.

The year was 2004. My piano team and I were frantically preparing for a big 5 piano competition thing. Day after day, week after week we met and practiced our songs again and again. (Well, okay-we weren't really "frantically preparing". We were pretty darn apathetic. But I digress.) So anyway. We were having fun, because, let's face it: You get Natalie, Natalie, Sarah, Jennifer, and Nathan into a room all playing the piano at the same time-it can only turn out to be hilarious, right?

Anyway, every piano lesson was an adventure-but one thing was certain: Nathan always played as loud and as fast as he could. It was so funny.

Well we won our competition. Yay.

After that competition, Nathan stopped taking lessons. (Thanks a lot, Nate.) Now whenever we had a 5 piano practice, we all missed Nate insanely. So, gradually, I adopted his playing style.

Isn't that horrible?!

(Don't worry-I can play normally when I want to, but my default setting is now as loud and fast as possible!)