Conversations Around The Piano

When I sit next to my piano students and watch them play their scales and chords, occasionally a child will stop,  looking earnestly into my eyes and tell me something important. Or silly. And if the child is three to six years old, h/she might not know the difference.

Sometimes I feel like I’m in a sitcom from the 1950’s.  Picture George Burns and Gracie Allen:

Unfortunately, I’m always the straight-man in these scenarios…minus the cigar and chin stubble.

One afternoon while I was teaching three year old Matthew, he stopped playing his five finger C scale and looked at me with urgency.

“Miss Heidi?  I have to tell you. Something ‘portent,”

“Can it wait until after you finish playing your scales?”

“Nooooooooooooo!”

I looked at the three year old with concern.  “What is it?”

“I used to have a pet.”

I grinned.  “Oh?”

“Uh-huh.”

Here comes the set-up a la George and Gracie:

“What was it?”

“An ant.”

“You had a pet ant?”

“His name was Fred.”

 “What happened to him?”

“He’s dead!”  His eyes filled with tears.

“Dead?  How did he die?”

“Daddy stepped on him.”

I bit my lip hard to stop the grin that was forthcoming.  A tragic story in the life of a three year old.

“I’m sure daddy didn’t see him.  It was an accident, honey.”

“Should I play my G scale now?”

I placed a loving arm around his shoulder.  “Remember to curve your fingers.”

“I know, I know!  Uh, Miss Heidi?”

“Yes, Matthew?”

“What was the name of that guy who was deaf and could still write music?”

“The composer’s name was Beethoven.”

“Wasn’t he a dog?”

As a child specialist…these are the tender moments I treasure.

Treble Clef