3.10.20 Addie and piano

In October 2019 Addie requested Piano lessons. I could hardly believe my hears, but of course checked with a teacher and signed her up. We dug through the books that are just gathering dust found her what we thought was appropriate for a beginner and began taking her to lessons. She declared our pianos to be junk and took Grandma Saunders up on her offer to play the mostly lonely grand piano. Every day Addie would take her books and sunglasses and head to grandmas. She rarely missed a day, seriously. I did not have to remind or prompt or cajole. She was on top of this project.

She played at the Christmas recital and we were pleasantly surprised. Grandma knows counting and she has helped Addie learn that very important skill. It's a good break for the action and noise here to get to spend some one on one time with grandma and grandpa. They don't mind the visit and are always encouraging music development. 

Well the new year came and with it the chance for a music competition. Addie was the kid a few years ago who asked if she could just win something. Not being a sports participant or a cub scout she has not had that chance very often. She had some challenging pieces to choose from but she diligently worked everyday on those pieces. Grandma was gone for a week here and there but Addie would still go play in the quiet of her house. She kept me on aware that it was coming and we left in plenty of time to get to her appointment. Because we had so much time we stopped and got Addie a milkshake, her favorite before the competition.

We happily ate ice cream while we navigated our way to the top of the hill in Payette to the LDS church. The grass was alive with kids waiting to go home. We watched kids and parents enter and exit the building, it was a big competition. I got a random text from Anna in a panic that our internet had suddenly went down and she needed to turn in an FFA contest application in the next 20 minutes. I emailed the adviser and told her what was going on and checked the due date time. We gained an extra 30 minutes and Anna worked with Alena and grandma trying to get the internet files from one computer to the next to get them sent. She and ALiza but mostly Anna has worked tens of hours on this if not a solid hundred. I waited outside the piano room listening and texting Anna suggestions. Addie went in and I was very surprised to hear her play.
She plays strong, she is not quite quivering pianist. Her songs had depth and emotion. They were beautiful. She was done soon and came out still alive! I assured her before, no one was going to kill her, so relax. We continued to text with Anna she finally reported she got a lesser version turned in with a minute or so to spare! The bad part of this experience was the recipient was the same lady whom we had to report the missing FFA state officer letter to. Anna works diligently but these weird accidents keep plaguing her this spring. There was no internet or phone until the next day. Not a big loss just inconvenient.
We got a call the next morning from the piano teacher reporting Addie had scored a superior. That's the best she could do! With two more superiors she will earn a trophy!
We were delighted for her, and so impressed with her diligent. A total of about 4 months of playing counting all the holiday time etc and Addie is really moving along.
A friend told me years ago that it was better to wait past the magic age of 8 to play, if Addie is any example that is true advice. She did not wallow in the plunk plunk three finger songs for long she is playing both hands coordinated melodies often now. Of course it could be grandma's tutledge for sure, and or Addie's natural determination and self-discipline, whatever the combination or reason we are thankful and pleased with her ability and commitment to improve.