We started our piano lesson as usual learning a new piece. Then when I played "Home on the Range" for Zeta to consider - it is the optional piece of music that I teach from the book - Ms. Judy came in and expressed how beautiful it was. The idea of playing for her and another student came up because Zeta needed the experience of playing for others. Eventually our audience grew and Zeta played her four songs for the small group. She performed very well. I was surprised at how well she controlled her nerves. Another mention is that there is another piano student that has heard Zeta play "Chimes" and today was his first attempt at playing it. He was amazing. Zeta made him love this piece and he performed it better than any other piece of music he has attempted. Zeta has decided not to play "Home on the Range". We only have two more songs, one of which will become another memorized piece of music,

Zeta started reviewing "My Bonnie", memorized it again and we started to review the other three songs she had previously memorized. "Chimes" went well. We let her play with the book first and then let her perform it without the book. Once we achieved each piece we moved on to the next previously memorized piece. Our next one was "Air" by Hayden. She seemed to remember that one very well. The last one was "Bluebells of Scotland". It was the hardest of the group. We will endeavor to perfect that one by Thursday.

Christopher had learned how many times his eyes would have to switch from the Bass Clef to the Treble Clef -- we called it the top hand and the bottom hand. He answered all the questions correctly during the review. We played it the first time with me pointing to each note asking "top hand or bottom hand?". When he had to play it on his own he had difficulty. Therefore, it was decided after a few attempts that I would write the symbol before the note of which hand it was. Also, Christopher was encouraged to say out loud the finger number to reinforce what he was looking at. It worked. However, by this time he was tired of playing the same thing over and over again. We will revisit the piece again on Thursday. I reminded him of how well he did before we decided to switch to something else. The something else was the C Scale. We did it five times in a row and then proceeded to do the C Triad. He did that five times in a row ascending. We tried descending and it was too difficult. No problem. We'll tackle that on Thursday. All in all he is aware that he can do it. Eventually we find a way to make it easy for him to understand. I want him to feel accomplished. Also, if he assumed it was going to be hard, so much the better after he realizes that he CAN do it.

Zeta has continued to memorize "My Bonnie". This piece has more twists and turns than the others. However, once you analyze it, not only its form but also the similarities and differences it becomes clearer. Zeta increased her attention to detail and marveled at how easy the differences were to remember. Next week we will begin the class by reviewing all four memorized pieces of music. She only has three more pieces of which the last one will be memorized making it five pieces she can play when asked without a book.

Christopher's attitude is changing. He is having trouble focusing/concentrating. However, we again addressed the music using the same five questions. He looked and answered them better, and eventually perfectly. Today we achieved more. He was a little stressed out assuming it was going to be hard. His back was hurting him. Eventually, when he realized that he could answer the questions correctly and applied the information, he relaxed. This was a turning point for the rest of the lesson. My hope is that he remembers how easy reading music and playing the right notes and rhythm are and that he'll begin to love achieving. We have put Tempo to the side and will address it in the very near future. His knowledge of notes, rhythm and fingering are good at this point. The mantra that I hope he adopts is "I will do my best".

Zeta started to memorize "My Bonnie". This is a more challenging piece of music than the other three that she has memorized. However, it emphasized that knowing Form - where does it repeat, what is similar, what is different - will eventually pay off. We weren't able to memorize it to perfection, yet it was approached well and Zeta knows she has achieved at a higher level. We took a break to start learning a new song, with a new concept. She was able to understand it, however, it does need more work so that it is played more smoothly.

Christopher had a breakthrough again. He was focused and concentrating. I think he realized after giving it a half-hearted attempt that it really wasn't so difficult. He then proceeded to focus and concentrate. Not one mistake when he did so... He earned two checks and then attempted to do the next two. He didn't seem to have too much difficulty except he didn't understand the concept of keeping both hands on the piano, never letting them off the keys. Even then, he played better today than he ever has. I'm very proud of him.

Zeta played "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain" without any difficulty. I asked her to play it slowly and she was able to figure out logically new ways of reading the music. It is meant as a duet, two people, four hands. We played it ever so slowly. Usually students get distracted the first time they play with a duet partner. Not Zeta. She did very well. I mentioned that it would be fun if we learned it very well, tempo wise, and let some of the students sing along with her playing it. Another reason to learn to play the piano, social bonding. We also learned the next few songs and each challenge was met very well. We are now going to memorize "My Bonnie" at our next lesson.

Student was absent... On trip to celebrate birthday in NY. Congratulations!...

Zeta reviewed "Blue-Bells of Scotland", memorized it again. We learned the next three songs which introduced her to new concepts. She mastered the first two songs and we will master the third one next week. She would have mastered it, however, we ran out of time.