Like A Diamond In The Sky

As a child I briefly played the viola. In fourth through sixth grade I was a member of the strings group at Nancy Gomes Elementary. It really cramped my style as a football player and as someone as I wanted to be thought of as "cool." I hated having to practice, subsequently I wasn't very good at it.

After graduating from college, at a cocktail party, a co-worker's high school-age son began playing the piano beautifully. He was a big and strong athlete, and he was one hell of a musician. His mother proudly boasted that he had been taking lessons for most of his life. I was amazed and my regret of not continuing with some form of music training weighed on me.

A couple of years ago I learned that starting children on a musical instrument around six years of age is encouraged. Doing so can usually help them with their other studies. I proposed to Emma that she start taking piano lessons when she turned six. To avoid the chance of her detesting the practicing that would be required, I also proposed that I take the lessons with her. In my mind, if I was learning and practicing along side of her, it wouldn't feel like it was a chore or punishment, but instead something we both were learning together. She, as with most things, agreed to it. Well, she is turning six in just a few days.

Last Christmas she received a toy keyboard as a gift. With the pink toy came a song book with sheet music, and letter indicators for each of the notes. Emma quickly learned a couple of tunes by relating the notes to the brightly colored letters above the small keys. The foundation was laid.

A couple of weeks ago, I enrolled her into piano lessons with a wonderful woman that specializes in younger students. I am not taking my own lessons, but I am attending all of Emma's lessons with her, and encouraging her by participating with all of her practicing and homework.

I have recently purchased an electric keyboard online from a 72-year old man, who was very excited for Emma to have his instrument. He had begun his musical career at six as well, and has played a number of instruments throughout his life.

Emma's first meeting with the instructor was mostly an interview of sorts; a way for her to see what my daughter already knows, and where to start with her. During the interview she asked, "Why do you want to play the piano?"

"I don't know." she shrugged.

"Do you know anyone that plays a musical instrument?"

"No." she blankly responded, not even pausing to think of her grandfather, or her neighborhood friends and their families.

Abbie and I were shocked by her shyness, and wanted to answer the questions for Emma, but chose to keep quiet for the most part.

"Have you ever played the piano?" the instructor asked.

"No." Emma sheepishly answered.

"Well, you have a keyboard and you have played that some, haven't you?" her mother interjected.

"Uh-huh." she barely mumbled.

"Do you know any songs?" her instructor followed.

"I know Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." she finally confessed.

Excited by some sort of positive response, the instructor pleaded, "Will you play it for me?"

"Sure!" my little girl was proud to oblige. She turned to the large wooden piano at which she had been sitting at, only to deflate with the reality that happy green, yellow, and blue stickers indicating where she should start were not on this device. She slumped and turned to the woman by her side, "I don't know where to start."

"Do you know the letters?" the instructor pried.

Emma began to recite the memorized letters as the instructor played a perfect rendition of the childhood classic.

Tears swelled in my eyes as I caught a glimpse of Abbie's hand rising to her face to wipe the tear of joy that had escaped her.

Now we are all really looking forward to Emma's musical future.