Piano lessons were two days ago, on Tuesday. Yani is progressing in her Suzuki piece. I want her finished with it yesterday; it seems too simple minded for her. She is still challenged by the notes, though, and I told her to take her book and write the note names down for the left hand in the second section of the piece. That should get her over the hurdle. Then, she was working on Thank You, Lord, which is harder, but she likes it better, and is making more progress. I think she’s ready to play it with both hands. Yanni mentioned that someone at Youth choir was trying to play the Charlie Brown song. That reminded me of the piece I wrote when I was in 8th grade, “Angie,” which was variations on the Broadway song, with some Charlie Brown thrown in. Then I started reminiscing on the old compositions, went to the basement and retrieved my composition box, and gave a long lecture on the inspiration for my music. I even came up with a new compositional idea, and kicked everybody out of the room so I could write it down. I’ve never seen Yanni actually interested in my compositions before. It was exhilarating.

At Xay’s lesson (on the 15th), I could tell that he’s been practicing. He’s got the first part of the Christmastime Secrets piece down, and is ready to conquer the second part. This piece has 16th notes, and it sounds more complicated than it is. It has just two sections, and the first one repeats several times. He should be ready to perform it soon.

At Mani’s lesson on the 15th, she showed slow progress on the 3rd Suzuki piece. She can play the first phrase, and then just stops. If she would play two more notes, she could finish the phrase, and then repeat it. This piece is a simple construction, and I just want her to wrap her mind around the big structure, rather than note by note. She is making progress, though. Then we worked on Jesus Loves Me. I can’t believe I tried to teach this earlier. It is still challenging to her, but she can hear the notes now, and is going for it. She should be ready to play this with me soon.

Joy is getting more competent on the knuckle song. I can tell her what to do (like go up, go down, do it again), and she takes direction well. We play it as a halting duet. She almost has it down cold. I asked Mani what song to teach Joy next. She said chopsticks. I’d forgotten that one! Joy can play chopsticks backwards on the xylopiano, and playing it the right way on the real piano is harder, but she’s enjoying her very short lessons.

I think it was last week that Etty copied the notes I was playing on the piano. I was just thinking that he was too young, and I wouldn’t try it any more, when I tried one more time, and he did it! I have been instructing the other children to play that game with Esteban. He didn’t repeat his success with them. I need to continue to play this game with him. We both like it!