That reminds me my piano is overdue for a tuning, not that I can tell. What I do notice is the squeaky pedal! I still enjoy listening to my daughter practice each day.

Somehow the picture of you and your son both pulling a piano type trick like the ones you told doesnt surprise me 🙂

Nature or nurture? Both maybe?

I’ve always wanted a piano. There’s no room for one right now, but someday…

I’ve always loved piano, but when I was a kid, there was no room for one- I never even asked for lessons, it just wasn’t possible. I took flute. (As a practical ten year old, I thought it would be easy to carry on the bus. It was.) I have no idea where my mom found the money, but she not only got me the instrument, but also private lessons (I believe initially motivated by a sincere desire to improve the quality of my practicing ASAP!) After my band years, the flute went into the closet and didn’t get played for a long time.

I never got rid of it though, and eventually wandered into a folk music crowd, which inspired me to pull it out again. I had to teach myself how to play by ear, but now I play often with my husband and with friends. And I still read music- the early training makes it far, far easier for me to look up and learn new pieces than doing it purely by ear would be.

And a few years after I started playing music again, I got a good-quality electronic keyboard, and took some piano lessons. I have trouble finding practice time, so I’m still not a stellar player. But I keep at it.

I will be forever grateful that my mom made it a priority to get me those music lessons as a kid- they’ve been an enduring source of joy to me.

Channon- if you want to play, consider an electronic keyboard. You can find ones where the sound is very good, and which do a good job of varying the sound based on the attack on the keys. And they take up a lot less space (and can even be stored when not in use, though I recommend leaving them out if at all possible- practice tends to happen less if you have to get the instrument out).

I too had to do the music lessons on the piano. I wasn’t very keen on it a the time. Although looking back, I think it was the instructor who insisted I had to do these awful musical pieces with umpteen multifingered chords. They sounded awful. And who wants to play music they don’t like? although now I can impress my hubby when we are at someone’s house with a piano by sight reading a piece fairly well, considering I haven’t touched a piano in years! (well, except fo those visiting instances)

True, so true! Hard work pays! The piano sounds wonderful having been in the family so long!
Isn’t it satisfying to hear all the years of lessons come rolling off the keys at your child’s hands. Ah, yes, will hear Youngest next weekend. Can’t wait.
Television…we haven’t had one for years, & it’s never been missed…too much life to live to be bogged down by such a thing. 😉

I’ve had my piano since I was six. I don’t play much these days, but I was lucky. Lucky to have two non-musical parents who nurtured my musical interests, and helped me to find a good piano teacher who encouraged me to see that practice is fun…especially when playing what you want…and yes, less disruptive than TV. (I played right over the TV in the family room when a younger brother insisted on cutting into my practice time.) I still lug out my jazz standard collections every now and again…and someday? I’ll play my guitar and sax again too, I bet. I just keep them around for when I’m good and ready. 🙂

I also have my parents’ piano, on which my children have learnt to play. We do have a TV, but the key rule here is no computer stuff until homework/practice are done. My kids are 15 and 13 now, and between them, as well as the piano, they play cello, guitar, bass, drums and keyboard, and write and record their own music and lyrics. It’s a huge source of pleasure and pride for me, and makes me think that my years of watching over them practicing are paying off.

Oh I had accordian and clarinet practice – I so understand