First recital attendance for one of my teachers

I attended a Doctor of Musical Arts Chamber Recital yesterday for a pianist at the university so I could watch my teacher Clayton perform Trio in A Minor for Clarinet, cello, and piano, Op. 114. 

It was the first time I'd watched my teacher perform and he was simply AMAZING! I mean...WOW...he was just...WOW... breathtaking...
I can't wait to attend one of his own recitals so I can see exactly what he's capable of because he definitely was not playing too his full potential/capability. Not that he didn't play well (his technique was excellent and he sounded wonderful), but I had the feeling that he could have played a piece that was MUCH more difficult and with more abandon, and this was just child's play for him!

Okay, I have to admit that sounded extremely biased with a bit of hero-worship thrown in! LOL! ;). But really, IMHO - being completely honest!

Of course, I've heard him play during my lesson, but that doesn't count, since playing a drone or showing me how to play something doesn't show someone's true ability or their musicianship. Although I almost wish I hadn't seen this recital because now I think I may be a little bit intimidated by him!
Ugh - if I start feeling anxious and nervous during my lessons with him I'm going to be really unhappy...

What's interesting is that I didn't listen to classical music until I started playing the cello a year ago, so none of the pieces were familiar to me. However, I could recognize and hear when the rhythm was off and how good the musicians were by their body movement and how relaxed they were.

For example, during the second performance with two pianists, a man and a women (I don't want to use names in case they stumble across my blog) played Concerto in D Minor for Two Pianos. I could tell the women was a much better pianist than the man because her posture and body movement was much more relaxed, and I also thought she was much more rhythmical. Later, I asked my husband what he thought and he said the women definitely outplayed the guy.
My husband was familiar with the pieces played at the recital, has a better sense of rhythm than I do, and also has perfect pitch (yes, he's been tested). Not that he's an expert either, but if it's noticeable to a beginner newb like me, I wonder how noticeable it is in my own playing... ugh, that's a horrible thought! Yikes!

Anyway, when my teacher played, his body movement was really relaxed and he also had that certain poise that individuals get when they're comfortable, confident and have developed the proper skills to attain the outcome(s) they want. I was kind of surprised that he had that quality - I knew he was good, but I didn't know he had reached that level! I don't see that poise of confidence with the skills to back it often...very unexpected...

Clayton was definitely the best player out of the group, and I'm not just saying that because he's my teacher. I think I'd be more prone to criticism towards him because I expect more from my teachers! Lol! :). Actually there was 1 out of the 4 movements, I could tell he wasn't 'as comfortable' with because he was a little bit more "tense" and it wasn't because of the tempo either.

Also, he is currently using his teacher's cello because he's waiting for his cello to be made, so I wonder what type of sound he'll gravitate towards once he receives his cello and gets it setup. He definitely produces a sound that is quite different than my other teacher Adam. Those two...they're so alike, yet so different! Comparing apples to oranges, or Yo-Yo Mas to Janos Starkers.

Anyway, it was really fun seeing him in his element - Clayton never ceases to amaze me! Wow, very inspiring! Time to go practice some cello! :D