Ricky started piano lessons last week. When asked how long he was going to be taking them, my answer was, “Um, until high school.”
I was fortunate enough to have taken years of lessons when I was a kid and I loved that my brothers were able to play the piano for congregations when they served as missionaries for our church. That always made their little sister proud.
I decided long ago that I’d give my own sons the opportunity to make their momma proud in the same way. Kevin agreed that learning to play the piano and having to regularly practice would develop good skills. I have a friend who does lessons not far from our home, so I added Ricky to her waiting list. His name came up this summer.
He couldn’t be more excited. He enjoys practicing and spends more than his teacher’s requested 15 minutes plunking on the piano keys. I’ve been sitting in on the lessons (to learn her technique so I can duplicate it while he’s practicing) and he jabbers away almost non-stop to her. This week he told her about his toy magic hat and all his magic tricks. He gave her his password to his club house and the secret “act” you have to do to get in. He’s in love. Not only with Ms. Melanie, but with the piano.
Despite his jabbering, Ricky is catching on quickly and I think he will be a good piano player. Kevin wants Ricky to teach him everything he is learning. He says it is so that Ricky will remember what he is learning better. I don’t think that is the real reason … I think Kevin is trying to mooch off of Ricky’s lessons and learn to play the piano himself!