Story 6: The Day I Cried for the Last Time Playing on the Street (v2)
Key Takeaways of the Story
Perfectionism is your worst friend, it will stop you from doing what you love.
The crowd doesn’t expect you to be perfect. You will always hear your own mistakes but the crowd won’t hear them or will not care.
The crowd will not make fun of you if you make mistakes. On the contrary, the crowd will always be there to cheer you. The audience is here to support you in getting over the hurdle. People love being part of the story where they help you get over your challenges.
Story
Part 1: The Birth of a Penguin Pianist
As Taiyo the little penguin celebrated his ninth birthday, he couldn't have been more excited. His parents had surprised him with the gift he had been dreaming about for months - a piano! It was a second-hand digital keyboard with keys that lit up, but to Taiyo, it was perfect. He and his sister Saya would have to share it, but that didn't matter. He was ready to dive into the world of playing the piano.
Taiyo quickly became obsessed with his keyboard, learning classical pieces from PenguinTube tutorials. He didn't have proper finger placement, but he made it work by playing as he did with his djembe and bongos. He practised so much that Saya barely had a chance to play her half of the piano!
Five months later, Taiyo decided to bring his piano to perform on Manly's main pedestrian street, the Corso, along with his usual djembe and bongos. The crowd was incredibly supportive as he played, and he even shared original melodies he had written. Things were going well, but then, as Taiyo got better, something strange began to happen.
Part 2: Fear of Imperfection
One day, as Taiyo waddled to the Corso with his dad bringing his equipment on a bike trailer, he couldn't help but feel nervous about his performance. What if he made a mistake? What if a mean animal in the audience, like a magpie or a grey-headed flying fox, made fun of him? The pressure to be perfect weighed heavily on the young penguin.
Taiyo began to play, and the crowd gathered as usual. But then, it happened - he played the wrong note. All he could hear was that one mistake, and he couldn't continue. He broke down in tears and went home, leaving his confused dad to pack up their things.
Once at home, his dad tried to cheer him up with a classic dad joke: "Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything!" Taiyo smirked, but his heart was still heavy.
This cycle continued for weeks. The pressure of perfection was causing Taiyo to crack. Despite his family's reassurances, he couldn't shake the fear of making a mistake in front of the crowd. Desperate to improve, Taiyo took a break from street performances to practice at home.
Part 3: The Wise Old Tawny Frogmouth
Determined to give the perfect performance, Taiyo returned to the Corso with his equipment. The little fairy penguin started playing as usual, and everything was good, people started gathering as the music started: a couple of elderly Brush-turkeys, a young Brushtail Possum and her mum, a family of Blue-tongued Lizards, and a dozen more. Yet again, his fingers slipped, and he played a wrong note. Overwhelmed, he began to cry, again
An old Tawny frogmouth approached him and asked what was wrong. Taiyo explained his fear of making mistakes and being made fun of by the audience.
The wise old bird reassured Taiyo, "We are all here to support you, little penguin. We are impressed by your courage to play in front of us, and we want you to be happy. Please, try again, and we will cheer you on, whether you make a mistake or not!"
Taiyo looked around and saw the crowd clapping for him. He felt their support and encouragement, and he started playing again. This time, he played with more confidence and joy than ever before, and the crowd loved it!
Part 4: The Journey Continues
Since that day, Taiyo learned to embrace his mistakes and laugh them off. Instead of fearing the crowd's reaction, he realized that they were there to support him and help him grow. His performances became more enjoyable, not only for the audience but also for himself.
And so, Taiyo the little penguin continued to share his music with the people of Manly. He knew that perfectionism was not his friend, but the crowd always would be. He had learned a valuable lesson that would stay with him for the rest of his life.
But as Taiyo's journey continued, new adventures and challenges awaited him. Would he be able to use the lessons he learned about overcoming perfectionism when facing new obstacles? And what other surprises awaited Taiyo and his family in the beautiful town of Manly? Only time would tell, as the story of Taiyo the penguin unfolded.
Questions before falling asleep, to encourage your kids to imagine themselves in Taiyo’s shoes
Which new instrument would you really like to try now? How could you get it?
Have you ever talked, sang or played in front of an audience? Were you scared? How did the audience make you feel before and after?
Have you ever tried to sing or play perfectly without succeeding? How did that make you feel?>
What did you think of the old Tawny Frogmouth’s help? What does it mean?
Original Videos:
PS:
This is just a draft, I am not a writer but I welcome your opinions below to help me write a children's book that can truly inspire children to find their passion for music and start playing in the streets for everyone's enjoyment.