The Paternal Optimist

Well Done, Dearie

The Mother Superior reports that she has been to visit the Boy Wonder, who is currently on a residential piano masterclass. Apparently, he's still fighting to try to subdue the Beethoven piano sonata he's been working on, and may decide to perform a Schubert impromptu instead during the traditional concert at the end of the week. Whatever he decides to play, his performance will of course be recorded and posted here just as soon as the PO can lay his hands on a copy.

These courses are hard work, and can take a lot out of young lad. Things can't be going too badly, though. During her visit MS was told by one of the organisers that no less a luminary than Ruth Nye, a former concert pianist and teacher at the Yehudi Menuhin school, has singled the BW out for particular praise. She also took the time to seek him out and pat him on the back, with a cheery "Well done, dearie" as she did so.

To which the PO can only add a proud "hear, hear".

I Know What The BW Did This Summer

On the basis of what has appeared here over the last few weeks, the casual reader might be forgiven for thinking that the Boy Wonder has done nothing of note this summer.

The more insightful reader, or for that matter the reader who has visited this site on a number of occasions and been following the BW's exploits for some time, might be inclined to reach an altogether different conclusion. Taking into account the BW's track record, and more importantly that of the author of this site, he might surmise that there is in fact no direct link between the BW's level of activity and the frequency of posting here.

And he would be right.

The fact is that since his return from France in July, the BW has been a very busy chap indeed. Unfortunately, so has the PO, which partly explains, but in no way excuses, his failure to provide you with regular updates regarding the Wondrous One's exploits.

For example, had he been better organised, the PO would doubtless have told you long ago about how the BW was there when the Lovebirds decided to celebrate their first wedding anniversary in the only way appropriate - by getting married AGAIN, only this time in the very same registry office in which the PO himself was married to the Mother Superior some sixteen years ago; about the taxi driver who arrived almost an hour late to take the wedding party to the restaurant for lunch, then, having confidently declared that he knew where he was going and besides, he had GPS, turned round and set off in completely the wrong direction, so that the PO, who has been living abroad for over ten years, ended up having to guide him for the entire journey across South London; and about how the BW was cruelly coerced into ordering a dessert he didn't even want because the PO couldn't decide between the two he wanted.

He would have told you about the BW's day trip to Cam- 
Sorry. To The Other Place.

He would have told you about the BW's preparations for his residential piano masterclass, which starts this weekend in Uppingham; about how he has been working on a Schubert Impromptu - "It's going OK" - and Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 1 - "I think I've more or less subdued it, but from time to time it fights back and I just want to burn the manuscript"; about how he has been filling the home of the Principal and the Recluse these last few days with sweet, sweet music.

He would have told you about the amazing news that the Boy Wonder will perform the second movement of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17 with the school orchestra at a Hogwarts concert in November.

He would have told you about the BW's first experience of Shakespeare in the theatre - a delightfully slick and witty production of The Comedy Of Errors.

He would have told you about the BW's visit to the Proms with the Principal, the Recluse and the Lovebirds to hear a Hungarian orchestra play Dohnanyi, Bartók's 3rd Piano Concerto (with Garrick Ohlsson as the soloist - "He played the Adagio really sensitively; you could tell he'd really listened to the piece and worked on getting it just right"), and Stravinsky's Rites of Spring ("I loved the way there were these adrenaline rushes, when from almost nothing it escalated into a huge noise.")

He would have told you about how Missy joined the BW, the Recluse and the Principal for a visit to Charles Darwin's house; about how the BW was particularly taken not by the collections of scientific instruments, the stuffed birds or the journals and other manuscripts, but by the drawings and pictures given to Darwin by his children; by the dinner tray they apparently used to slide down the stairs; about the chair on wheels on which their father would spin them round and round; and about how the sickly naturalist would collect bees and sprinkle them with flour and then ask the children to follow them through the garden to see where they stopped.

He would have told you about how breathless it makes him feel just listening to the BW describe his antics over the phone.

And of course he would have told you about how the first thing, absolutely the first thing that the BW wanted to tell him on one of the recent occasions on which they spoke, a couple of weeks ago, maybe three, was that Schmoo was avidly preparing for his Grade 1 Piano exam, and that Button had scored distinctions in both her Trumpet Grade 2 AND her Piano Grade V exams.

But I guess that's the trouble with the PO. He just doesn't get round to telling you these things, and before you know it, they are lost for posterity, gone forever...

The BW Takes A Time-Out

Two weeks ago, in time-honoured tradition, hundreds of Hogwarts pupils and their parents stoically endured tropical temperatures as they sat and watched a succession of small and not-so-small boys and girls troop up one by one to collect their end of year prizes.

For some, there was the consolation of a brief moment of vicariously lived glory as a son or a daughter, a brother or sister, perhaps even a best friend enjoyed his or her fifteen seconds of fame.

For others, the tedium, time-honoured or otherwise, was unremitting.

"And what of the Boy Wonder ?" the PO hears you ask.

Well, as it happens, the Boy Wonder... wasn't there.

No, in view of the particularly long and hard term he had had - and in view of the fact that the DPs in their infinite wisdom, despite his outstanding performances in the scholarship and end-of-year exams, and despite his excellent end-of-term report (more of which shortly), had decided to attribute to him not so much as a single prize - the Mother Superior took an executive decision and informed the BW that his summer vacation would be beginning a day early.

Of course the BW was as sanguine as ever about this latest snub.

"So, which would you have preferred ?" the PO asked him on the phone a couple of days later. "An armful of prizes, or getting off school a day early ?"

A second or two passed before the BW answered, the time perhaps for him to shout from his chaise-longue to the Mother Superior and ask her to peel him another grape.

"On balance," he said gravely, "I think I'm pretty happy with the extra day's holiday," before adding without a hint of triumphalism, "Of course, Button and Schmoo aren't very pleased, cos' they've still got another week to go."

The fact is that the PO considers that - yet again - the MS and the BW have got it absolutely right. After all, who needs prizes when he has just received his best ever report, with no fewer than 7 1As, as well as 2 2As and A grades in both his musical instruments ? Here, for those of you who insist on such things, are a few highlights :

English (1A) : "Superb all year [...] Magnificent exam [including] a poetry comprehension exercise in which he contrived to lose not a single mark : no mean feat. [...] A pleasure to teach."

Greek (1A) : "He has applied himself with a will to mastering the fine detail [...] Adept at applying his knowledge when confronted with a linguistic challenge. [...] Sets his sights commendably high and [has] convincingly demonstrated his potential. [...] A pleasure to teach [...] extremely impressive."

Latin (1A) : "To be congratulated on coming top of this very able and competitive set. [The exam] shows that he is very close to being able to read Latin in original authors."

French (1A) : "Reliable [...] adventurous on occasion [...] serious-minded. [...] Performed very well across the board. [...] Very pleasing. [...] Well done and have a lovely summer."

History (1A) : "Positive and constructive. His outstanding [exam result] provides clear testimony to his ability. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching him."

Maths (1A) : "I am confident he will continue to excl in this subject."

Chemistry (2B) : "His top mark in the set [...] showed a very good knowledge and a thorough understanding of the concepts."

Geography (2B) : "I am sure [the BW] would be the first to admit that Geography has not been at the top of his list of priorities in what is obviously a hectic schedule but [...] I am sure he will rise to the challenge of more intellectually demanding work next year."

Music (1A) : "Has so much potential in this subject. The challenge for him is to maintain his efforts and set his standards high in all his musical endeavours since he has the makings of a very fine your musician."

Art (3B) : "He has been great fun to teach and I have enjoyed his company in lessons a great deal."

Drama (2A) : "Has shown great leadership and directorial qualities while remaining gracious and amiable."

Tutor's Report : "Another extremely busy Quarter. [...] He has coped with it all with remarkable and admirable aplomb, setting himself high standards and managing his time most effectively. [...] Refreshingly candid and straight-forward. He is modest about his achievements and talents and is unfailingly good-humoured and courteous. He enjoys the company of his friends but possesses the independence of spirit to pursue his own goals in a resolute manner. Very well done indeed."

Head of Gryffindor's Closing Statement : "Outstanding as ever."

As fine a selection of comments as one could wish to hope for, the PO is sure you'll agree. As for the phrase "he enjoys the company of his friends but possesses the independence of spirit to pursue his own goals in a resolute manner" - is this not an epitaph that any man would be proud to have earned ?

One thing is certain : the BW, currently living the high life in a château somewhere near Anjou, has earned his break. Only seven (sic) weeks to go...

An Important Anniversary

Today a number of cards arrived at the PO's humble abode. Well, three, actually.

One was from the Principal and the Recluse. One was from the Lovebirds.

The third was from Matthias, the passionate Roma-and-Italy-supporting architect-photographer and instructor who earlier this year in Zermatt oversaw the BW and the PO as they made their first tentative attempts at snowboarding. The message inside the card read as follows :

On July 14th, 1865, Edward Whymper and some other fellows reached the top of the Matterhorn. What an important day !

On July 14th, 1965, the Paternal Optimist reached the world. This can't be just a coincidence, don't you think so ?

Thanks to all of you, and especial thanks to Matthias and his girlfriend Josephine - and congratulations to Italy on winning the World Cup !

The Boy Wonder Cocks A Snook

Naturally he is far too elegant and sophisticated ever actually to make such a gesture, but the BW this week took the opportunity presented by his end of year exams to stick two metaphorical fingers up to the infinitely wise Hogwarts DPs who chose not to honour him with an academic scholarship a little over a month ago.

Showing the wisdom and priority management to which we have become accustomed, he opted for mid-table mediocrity in his RS exam, scoring a reasonable but unthreatening 63%. However, in all of the other subjects for which he has thus far received results - Geography was still pending as the PO went to press - his performance was not so much Premier League as Champions' League.

Consider the facts. In every major subject - Maths, History, French, Greek, English, Music, Latin - he finished in the top four, with two second places and four first places.  Across these seven subject combined he dropped only 53 percentage points, with a lowest mark of 85% and five scores over ninety per cent. In English he scored 96% and in Music and Latin 97%.

When asked by the PO how he felt - Did he feel vindicated ? Was he proud to have responded to the DPs' snub in such an impressive manner ? - the BW responded with characteristic modesty, and not a little humour.

"Well, Dad," he said thoughtfully. "I think I'm playing my role of dark horse pretty well, don't you ?"

It will be interesting to see how these performances are reflected in his end of term report - coming soon to a blog near you...

Spare A Thought For The Boy Wonder

Not only does the BW have a whole new round of exams looming - two Maths papers and a French oral this week, followed by three whole days next Monday to Wednesday...

But yesterday he was hit during cricket practice by a brutal bouncer - bowled by an adult who should have known better - which thudded into his chest.

Ever the stoic, he played the incident down on the phone to the PO, who still wakes up in a cold sweat every once in a while, shaken from his sleep by dreamt remembrances of the moment when a burly boy called Wilson struck him on the glove with a nasty lifter during his first practice with the First XI at prep school...

Of course, later in life the PO made quite a name for himself as a purveyor of ever-so-slightly-faster than military medium bowling, breaking not one but two opponents' noses during an unforgettable 1984 season.

Or was it 1985 ?

Peu importe - those were the days. And who knows ? Perhaps such days lie ahead of the BW too...

Or perhaps he will just stick to less dangerous pastimes...

[Many thanks to Mrs MOP for the photograph]

(Boy) Wondrous Fragments

From the comments on the Boy Wonder's Grade VII piano exam :

• Piece 1 : "A spirited account"
• Piece 2 : "A wide palette of tone and touch"
• Piece 3 : "Imaginative and authoritative"
• General : "A tremendous feel already for flexibility of pacing and variation of tone and touch. Hugely enjoyable."

From the (mostly illegible) comments on his EPTA competition performance :

• "Much to commend in your fearless energy throughout."

Imaginative and fearless. What more could a father hope for in his son ?

Er, Details - Well, A Detail - As Promised

The BW was understandably relaxed when the PO spoke to him on Monday night - the multiple pressures of the last few weeks are finally behind him, and he can at last relax a little and spend the rest of term focusing on other things - rehearsals of the Hogwarts Strings Group, preparing for end of year exams, tightening up that forward defensive and passing his fingers in a sort of eccentric intellectual way through his "flowing locks" (thanks to Mrs MOP for the lowdown on that one).

He was also typically blasé about his recent outstanding Grade VII results.

He admitted to having scored 29 out of 30 for his performance of Kadosa, which is gratifying, since he reported immediately after the exam that he thought he had played it better than ever before.

Otherwise, though, hard numbers were not forthcoming. Commenting on his scales and aural tests, on both of which he lost a few marks, he quoted his piano teacher who apparently told him that she would make sure that he scored full marks on both in his Grade VIII - which, incidentally, he will not be taking any time soon. The PO is pleased to hear that, rather than push him to take it very quickly (which there is no doubt he could do) in order to be able to say that he has done so at the tender age of 13, she prefers to give him plenty of time to prepare - as she says, he will only get to take the exam once, so he might as well work to get the highest score he possibly can.

Last Friday's viola masterclass, meanwhile, had the BW positively waxing lyrical and talking enthusiastically not only about what he had learnt during his half-hour with the master - including some invaluable advice about bow position that has helped him to coax a much richer sound from his instrument - but also about what he had gained from watching the sessions of the other participants, all of whom were more advanced than he is.

As for the Hogwarts scholarship, the Boy Wonder, as predicted, has chalked that one up to experience and moved on. One might say that it's old news - apart, that is, from the revelation that Young Mr Hoskins scored one, a fact unaccountably omitted from earlier reports - well done, YMH ! And apart from the fact that both their names were published in The Times and The Torygraph (thanks again Mrs MOP), thereby officially making them national celebrities ! No doubt it's only a matter of time before we get to see them on Big Brother or Hogwarts Idol...

Newsflash

[From the Hogwarts correspondent of the Associated Press]

Officials confirmed today that the Boy Wonder won a distinction in his Grade VII piano examination,  scoring 133 out of 150. He was said to be 'quietly pleased with himself.'

More later.

Father's Pride

The BW has suffered a couple of minor disappointments this week. First, he received confirmation from Hogwarts that he had not been awarded an academic scholarship following last week's extensive examination process; then, at the Oxford regional final of the EPTA piano competition which took place on Saturday, he came away empty-handed.

Disappointments ? Yes - it is always disappointing not to win, assuming that is the goal one has set oneself.

But setbacks ? Absolutely not.

The PO has already commented here on the maturity with which the BW treats those twin imposters, Failure and Success, and his ability to maintain an admirable sense of perspective. His reaction to this week's events has been typical, even if it doesn't take a degree in pyschology (which is a good thing, as the PO does not have one) to know that deep inside there is some part of him, however small, that is hurt.

Knowing the BW, it's unlikely that sense of hurt will ever grow out of proportion, but just in case one day it should do so, the PO would like to underline a few pertinent facts.

Taking the scholarship first, it was clear before the outset that the likelihood of Hogwarts making the BW an award was slim, simply in light of the fact that he is already the beneficiary of the maximum music scholarship. Any academic award would have been one in name only - a sign that his abilities have been recognised - and brought no additional financial reward. So why give one to him when there were doubtless numerous other deserving candidates, for whom (and, most of all, for whose parents) the financial benefits - and the PO speaks with considerable authority on the subject - would make a significant difference ?

Besides, the BW's abilities have already been recognised - by the fact that he was one of the small group invited to enter the scholarship exams, and by the letter which he received afterwards, in which the Hogwarts DPs congratulated him on his performance, pointing out that he had performed well across the board and revealed no weaknesses.

Most importantly, however, just taking the scholarship exams has been a great experience for the BW. Not only did he enjoy the social aspect immensely, but he also worked hard - with much help and coaxing from the Mother Superior - to prepare for what was by far the most rigorous series of academic tests he has ever had to take. He can honestly put his hand on his heart and say that he did his very best - and for that alone the PO is incredibly proud of him.

The timing of the EPTA competition could not have been worse - and I'm not referring to the fact that it took place on Saturday, not Friday, therefore depriving the Principal and the Recluse of the opportunity to attend a live BW performance for the first time. Not only did it come only a week after his scholarship exams, but during that intervening week he also took his Grade VII piano exam. As a result, though one of the pieces he played in the competition was also one of his exam pieces, he only had four days during which to prepare the other - the famous Khatchaturian Toccata, which he had hardly played in several weeks. Despite such an unpromising run-up to the competition, by all accounts the BW played beautifully.

How many of the other contestants had had such an arduous week before the final ? How many of them had as many strings to their bow as the BW ? Remember - he has a viola masterclass coming up on the 19th,  only a few days away. For how many of the  other children competing - and from the BW's gracious comments, it sounds as though the standard was quite superb - is music the be-all and end-all of their lives ? Once again, the PO is proud that the BW was able to go and give such a creditable account of himself without once complaining about the pressure or the workload heaped upon him (or about the fact that he missed the FA Cup final, thrillingly won by his favourite team, Liverpool).

Over the years, the Boy Wonder has given the PO any number of reasons to be proud. It's easy for him to understand his father's pride when he is winning prizes, competitions, scholarships, gaining distinctions and commendations. But it's important that he knows that he is the cause of unlimited paternal - not to mention maternal, grandmotherly and -fatherly, avuncular and agnatic, and yes, even brotherly and sisterly - pride all of the time.

[Right, BW, that's enough time-wasting on the internet - go and practice your viola, or you'll embarass us all at your masterclass...]