Key Play

Pianos and punks aren't always happy partners. Particularly boy punks. So when Than and Collin started composing their own music before the end of their first year of piano lessons, you can imagine the surprise they dealt their instructor, Annie. She was delighted and encouraged them, even had them play their own compositions for Recitals.
Moving to the farm made the commute for lessons difficult. We all loved Annie, it was not easy to say goodbye. Carrie sifted through her homeschooling and league contacts, and found a wonderful new instructor who actually WOULD COME TO THE HOUSE! That really counts when you live 35 minutes from anywhere.
Betty's first lessons with us were a success, we hired her on the spot. She now has four students at one stop, which also helps her out with driving logistics. Have I mentioned, how much we love our country life?! We meet the greatest people.
In addition to his regular lesson music, Than has focused on learning some pieces by heart, currently it is "Red River Valley". He also got his own Christmas music book, and has been warming us up for Christmas sing-a-longs.

Collin mentioned to Betty how much he liked composing his own music. So she challenged him to have a new piece for her each week. One time he forgot, and whipped something out the hour before lesson time. When Betty heard it, she commented on how good it was, she could tell he had spent some time on it. Collin was torn between accepting the compliment as it was, or admitting that he had forgotten his assignment! He does do some awesome compositions.

Betty will sometimes play duets with us, and that's really fun. She is also taking us to the next level, of being more particular about the note counts, hand position (as she is coaching Collin, below, to have more arch to his fingers), and dynamic notations. Having a new instructor can be a good thing, as you learn different techniques and work with new music.

Lee has started piano this year. He had been playing guitar, but a new instructor hasn't surfaced here yet. So he is taking his music interest in the path of his brothers for now, which won't hurt his guitar playing, either. Lee is fun to sing next to at church, he wants to keep track of the notes and words and does a good job at it. Dad conducts the music during church, which is a good example for the boys.

Annie was an excellent instructor for the boys, getting them started and nurturing their love of music. It's nice to have another instructor with the same passion and patience for teaching youngsters. And not-so-youngsters.

After a year off, I've picked up my music again, playing my little keyboard here at the cabin and getting over to practice on the piano at the farm house as often as I can. Music practice of any kind is purported to be an excellent exercise for brain preservation. I have discovered while playing back through my piano book as review to get back on track, that my brain REALLY needs this stimulation. With songs I knew well a year ago, it has now been difficult to get my left hand to follow my right hand again. And the damper pedal? Don't even go there. Three things at once causes a major traffic jam in the synapses.