The pianist - The first piano recital

One of life's big regrets is that I never mastered a musical instrument. Growing up as a military brat, we moved around a lot. In the pivotal learning to play the flute year, we moved mid-school year from New York to California.  My new class in California was much further along than my previous school, and although I sat in for the rest of the school year,  I never caught up. And as it is with many kids, I moved on and lost interest during that year.

In my 20s I studied guitar, but it wasn't the same. So with regret breeds ... piano lessons for my kids. I have heard the horror stories of kids (especially who grew up in the 40s and 50s ...) being forced into piano lessons. Understanding that is really not a good thing, in January Xander started piano lessons with no coersion.

Proud Mamma bragging time -- Xander was born with two inherent loves. One is water. From his first bath he has been in love with being wet, splashing around and water, and the other is music. As a baby we hummed Tchaikovsy to him to calm him down, his first concert was an opera, and his first favorite toy as a toddler was his rainbow piano. He also has great focus and beautiful long fingers, and a ear for music. He was born to play piano.

In January Xander started piano lessons. At the behest of his piano teacher we waited until he was six and half, but we knew that he would love it. Every Friday Jonathan takes Xander to his lesson, and he practices piano 10 to 30 minutes a night -- no pressure.

So after a whopping four months of lessons on Sunday Xander had his first recital. It was great. His teacher likes to do recitals because it is a forcing function to help her students rise to the occasion. It is always good to have a goal. Xander did great playing both Yankee Doodle and Mary Had a Little Lamb. Remember Billy Joel and Beethovan were once beginners. Still I'm not sure he is bound for Julliard yet. But I think we are fostering a love of music that will serve him well in life, no regrets.