If you're going to hide under a piano bench, don't leave your shoes in the middle of the room.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (206284)
Walnut Creek, California
April 18, 2024 10:20am CST
Yesterday was my longest day at Guitar Center, but it (Wednesday) is also my "funnest" day. I get to teach Alee, who has been with me for years (she is almost eight now), and I get to teach Zane. Zane is six now, and he is a good piano student. But, being six, he can be goofy for a whole lesson.
When I got to my classroom, I spied his shoes in the middle of the floor. His family is Asian (I don't know which Asian), and Asians tend to remove shoes upon reaching their destination. I said, "I wonder when Mr. Zane will arrive. I look forward to teaching him."
I heard a giggle. I said, "Let's see. He's not under my piano. I'll just wait patiently."
"I'm here!"
"Oh! You tricked me again!"
The lesson went well. I taught him a new scale, and we worked out a version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for both hands.
I am introducing him to the concept of "harmony" (different notes played simultaneously that sound pretty together), and this will segue into Bach's Minuet in G, which will be one of his first classical pieces.
Yes, our conversations "went random" at times (I taught him that there are three ways to spell buy/by/bye), but we got some good "music learnin'" in.
13 people like this
11 responses
@AmbiePam (85660)
• United States
18 Apr
I’m a shoe off person myself, and I will provide you unused slippers to keep it that way. Unfortunately, some people do not take the hint. If I didn’t have carpet, I wouldn’t bother.
If my piano teacher had been fun maybe I would have paid attention. Thank God my sister did. Due to her being an overachiever, the pressure was off me.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53944)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Apr
Too funny and cute! Being the tiger mom that I am sometimes, I would have said why did he not leave his shoes neatly by the door (yah, we take off our shoes here). I like your way of teaching - you're definitely not like the stuffy piano teacher I had!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326098)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Apr
I remember a friend and I hiding from my Mum once. She made remarks like yours until she had us giggling. It didn't take her long to find us. We'd made a hole in a huge pile of timber and garden clippings so she knew where to start.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157650)
• United States
19 Apr
It is good you are not a stuffy old teacher but can have fun. There is a little girl in our group that I have known for about six years. She is in third grade, is not verbal but is very expressive. She has started being a little defiant with her main helper. Sometimes throwing things like her I pad when asked to get it. I am beginning to teaser her and when she refuses, I tell her it is "mine now". Eventually she does what she is supposed to. I pretended to put on her shoes today.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170353)
• United States
18 Apr
I hope you pointed out his mistake to him...maybe next time he will hide better. Not that you would necessarily want that..lol.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73679)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Apr
Glad they are both doing well with their lessons, Zane sounds like he likes to have fun,
1 person likes this