Mar 08
29
Ticklin’ the Ivories
Posted by Stephen29
Tags: Daniel, learning, music
Last century my mother tried to teach me to play the piano. I’m sad to say I had no interest whatsoever, and after endless frustration on both our parts she gave up. I can’t rightly say I gave up, seeing as I never really tried in the first place. Looking back, I wish I’d put in the effort. Playing the piano is such a useful skill. Of course, like any worthwhile skill, it’s one thing to want it, and another to put in the hard work and hours needed to achieve perfection, or even a passable simulation thereof.
Fast-forward to the present. Debbie decided to teach Daniel (4) to play the piano. And all the misgivings of my own childhood failure came to the surface. Let’s just say I was highly skeptical. I had misgivings about Debbie having the patience, about Daniel having an attention span of more than thirty seconds. I predicted it would come to grief. I was wrong.
Today Daniel wanted to demonstrate to me the two pieces he’s currently practicing. I thought he played them kind of OK, they’re pretty simple pieces. Then I tried. That’s when I realised how much better than me he was at reading music, let alone playing the piano. I got a quarter of the way through one piece before I gave up and conceded defeat.
Daniel enjoyed showing off his pieces. He’s eager to move on to the next two pieces in the book. The book is almost finished, and then he can go to the next book. He’s keen to move on and up. He’s a competitive wee soul.
It’s not always sunshine and light. Some days it takes an hour to do a ten-minute piano practice. Frustration easily surfaces. But Daniel enjoys learning his piano pieces. He likes the feeling of confidence as he sits at the keys, knowing how to place his fingers just so, knowing exactly what the notes are. I’m amazed how my son is learning. I’m amazed how my wife is teaching. I’m glad they ignored my prophecies of doom.
Photo note: he’s only one year old in this picture, and only pretending to play.
