A touching moment at Guitar Center the other day.

@TheHorse (224867)
Walnut Creek, California
March 28, 2025 2:00pm CST
I was working with one of my piano students the other day. She is about 11-years-old, and Latina. I am not sure what country her parents or grandparents are from. Perhaps the US. After working on Beethoven and Bach for awhile, she sat quietly, and looked like she had something to say, but did not know how to say it. She is not one of my assertive or rowdy students. I almost said, "Are you OK?" but I held back. Finally, she said, "Can we do that thing we did last week? I think you called it sevenths." In that moment, I remembered that I had shown her how to "improvise," using only white notes (no sharps or flats) in the right hand over several seventh chords, including C-E-G-B and D-F-A-C, in the left hand. Seventh chords sound "dreamy." I said, "Use only white notes, in any order you want," and I played the seventh chords for her, from C7 all the way up to G7. All she had wanted was to do a "jazz jam"! As you know, I am a bit of a rebel. I want her to be able to read Bach's Minuet in G, and Beethoven's Fur Elise. But I also encourage all of my piano students to make up their own melodies. Just to play for the fun of it. She left happy. I will attach my own "piano jam" that @Vandana7 and I posted a couple of years ago. It's simple stuff, but still pretty. It doesn't sound that different from what the little girl and I did together.
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11 people like this
8 responses
@celticeagle (172445)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Mar
So pretty. She sounds like a timid little thing. I hope she gets over it. I was that way when I was young and it wasn't fun at all.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (224867)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Mar
I have attitude. A part of my goal is to pass that attitude on to my music students.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (172445)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Mar
@TheHorse ......Toward music or in general?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (224867)
• Walnut Creek, California
12h
@celticeagle Both. I want my students to play for the pure joy of playing music.
@wolfgirl569 (113755)
• Marion, Ohio
29 Mar
They learn more if they have fun
2 people like this
@TheHorse (224867)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Mar
I agree. I signed up a new student today. She is 7-years-old and took her trial lesson with Minny Mouse ears on.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (76401)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Mar
That is cute. I am she left happy.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (224867)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Mar
I'm glad too. We'll see what happens next week.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (76401)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Mar
@TheHorse Hopefully something good.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (224867)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Mar
@kaylachan I'm pretty confident.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (72901)
• United States
29 Mar
So let her do Fur Elise as a jazz song. Mentioning that reminds me of the line in a Rainer Hersch “history of music” bit: “it was all for you, Elise…you cow!”
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1 person likes this
@FourWalls (72901)
• United States
29 Mar
@TheHorse — have fun!
@TheHorse (224867)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Mar
Well dang! I'll watch the video when I get back from Guitar Center. Moo.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (349509)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Mar
So good that she managed to ask for what she wanted.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (224867)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Mar
Next lesson, I will demand that she do Furry Elise and Bach's Minuet in G. And practice scales. I'll see if she asks for our "7th Jam." Of course, I will suggest it if she does not.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (349509)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Mar
@LindaOHio (185430)
• United States
29 Mar
It's students like that that make it all worthwhile, isn't it?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (224867)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Mar
It is. I look forward to seeing her next week.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (83484)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Mar
And for moments like this and others you can enjoy your work at the Guitar Center,
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (224867)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Mar
I enjoy every day there.
1 person likes this
28 Mar
Children making music is so special
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (224867)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Mar
It really is. And when they feel empowered to make their OWN music, I am especially satisfied.