The COVID-19 lockdown chaos does not look like it is coming to an end anytime soon. While Everett is doing fairly well on Skype with Ms. Bev, we didn’t think Sierra would do as well starting out piano lessons virtually , so I decided to start teaching her myself.
Being the second child, Sierra goes about day-to-day taking somethings for granted, I think, such as activities that Everett does but not her. An example is the making eggs video. While Everett was learning to do that, Sierra goes about doing her own think preparing what she is capable for breakfast. She didn’t ask to do eggs too, and I wonder if she just assumes that she’s “too little.”
Does Sierra feel that same way about piano? Everett has been doing piano lessons for two years now. I don’t want to leave Sierra out, but is she just waiting patiently to start, or she’s just assumed that piano is an Everett activity and not for her?
So far, she has banged on the keys here and there, and I believe I’ve finally taught her to find middle C. Her attention and interest for the keyboard doesn’t seem to be what Everett’s was like at her age.
I set out first piano lesson for Valentine’s Day and I told about it earlier that week to build up anticipation. By the time Sunday arrived, she was ready to start her first lesson with daddy.
The beginner piano books are really a generation apart from what I learned from. In place of monochrome or two-tone prints, we have spreads of colorful characters and friends who help us through this musical journey. The Practice book that we are reusing from Everett comes with a CD that we lost a long time ago, but the media easily accessible online. Even though the cover is yellow instead of her preferred purple, she enjoyed personalizing her new Writing workbook, just like how she doodles in her bedtime story books.
Having sat through several of Everett’s piano lessons, and now onto the 4th set of books for him, I’ve found that these books really help the teacher out, and I think does a good job keeping the beginner child engaged.
Maybe some lemonade can come out of COVID lemons in the form of quality time for Sierra and daddy at the piano.
