But moments later, he sits down to play, the fingers begin to dance, and the music and confidence flow.
Wallace is a year 8 pupil at Tahuna Normal Intermediate and one of 110 pupils from schools around Dunedin who performed at the Dunedin Performing Arts Competitions Society's junior instrumental festival over the weekend.
The event, at the Hutton Theatre, Otago Museum, finished last night, after performances by children aged 5 to 16, on pianos, clarinets, flutes, cellos, violins, brass instruments and an electronic keyboard.
Competition convener Jenny Perez said the annual competition - which, like the society, had been running for 107 years - was one of six held each year, and helped young musicians learn to perform in front of an audience and judges.
"There's been a few very outstanding performances from young children playing music well beyond their years - some very, very mature pieces.
"It's a real confidence boost for them, doing this sort of thing, and they are playing in front of a very appreciative audience," Mrs Perez said.
About 50 people - including proud parents, teachers and other performing pupils - were at the theatre when the Otago Daily Times visited on Saturday, and many more were expected to have watched 230 performances by last night.
Wallace told the ODT he had been playing the piano for about six years, and enjoyed listening to and playing the relaxing music.
"I get nervous before I start competing, but it usually turns out well," he said.
