Summer Piano Practice Can Be Great

    Young Children have an "I can do it" attitude. Tackling a song on the piano is like a game. They either have the notion that they can or they believe they can't. Once it has been done, they don't really see a reason to repeat it. Before the age of 8 they will not be ready to go to the piano by themselves to practice. They need help getting to the piano and they need reasons to repeat their pieces of music.

   Make your piano corner an inviting place to be. Have music books ready to go and get an assignment notebook to access on the piano stand. Have ample light at the piano and make sure your bench is at an appropriate height. When hands are on the keyboard the forearms and wrists should be level.

     My Summer Music Contest will have a side benefit. Recording the minutes you practice will also start or improve the habit of practicing with a plan. The young beginner may only have the songs to play and an amount of time to play but the older student needs to come to his practice session with goals for each piece. What changes need to be made? How should the song sound? What corrections should be made? Good practice requires thought not just repetition.

    For the youngest students I suggest motivation. No, these are not candies, just marbles. "Move a marble every time you play the song. You know you will be done when all the marbles are in the other bowl."

    Have an audience at the piano. "Spotty the Horse wants to hear that song again a little slower."

    Anna is ready to get her 100 minutes of practice. She sees many scoops on her cone this summer.

Remembering the Summer

I hate to complain, but do you remember Summer? It was that day almost two weeks ago when I broke open the slip and slide in my backyard.

The Grandkids were thrilled to see the hose and to fill up all the toys.

The pool came out with the playground slide and I opened my umbrella.

The bathing beauties had a blast. (Of water, too)

The Knitting Queen put her yarn aside and came out to catch the rays. I mean, I'm just sayin' that was summer and I'm counting on a few more.

Book of Mormon on Broadway

  So yesterday was a Book of Mormon Sunday. 

   Since the first Sunday of my blogging I have done a little commentary on my current reading. I challenged myself to read a chapter a day. I am almost done with Alma and have found this to be most helpful, since writing a response to my reading is sometimes harder than I thought. Not because I can't think of anything to write but because I get disappointed with my own ability to write and express myself.
 But, apparently others have an easier time. Yes, yesterday the Book of Mormon was front and center on Broadway.
 "Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of the Emmy Award-winning South Park, found a kindred soul in Robert Lopez, who co-wrote the Tony-winning Avenue Q, and all three found themselves with plenty of awards when they collaborated to gently mock Mormons and send-up Broadway itself.
Collecting the best musical prize, a subdued Parker, who tied Josh Logan of South Pacific with four Tonys in one evening — said he'd be remiss if he didn't thank his late book co-writer — Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion.
"You did it, Joseph! You got the Tony!" Parker said looking skyward and holding up his award."
 Hmm...it is interesting to me to think of the thousands of people who will sit through this show and laugh at music and words about what a few people think of this beloved book, and it's translator, and never really open it to find the treasure inside.
 Like the author of the musical said, thanks to the theater goers who made this show possible, he appreciated them but now they would have to atone for it .  It was said in jest, hmmmm.....

Writing Tante Hanni's Story

So.... I have been writing this week; madly writing because I have a deadline.

I want to bind this book for someone's birthday July 8th. Pressure!!! 

This story is so compelling and the characters, who are real, want to sway me with their view of the events of my aunt's life. 

She left nothing in print, to my knowledge, so I am writing what others have recounted to me. Each person sees her differently and wants to spin the account to match their view. I thought I knew her. She was a huge influence on my life. But, as I write I am surprised over and over again by the complexity of her decisions. I long to talk to her, to ask why she did this and that. I invite you to read the unfinished tale and comment on my writing. In the next week it will be done. It may be a feeble effort but no one else seems to be up for the task.

(You can leave comments at the end of this post)

The story is in two parts so far.

Part One:
Part Two

Yoga Outside

Do you remember Summer last Saturday? The sun warmed the ground by 6:30 am. I had to try my yoga practice outside. I grabbed a board and found a level spot.  

It was quiet with the songs of birds calling and answering. It took awhile to "to go inside" because the world around me begged for attention. The air smelled warm like dirt and flower scent combined. My muscles relaxed with the heat I had been longing for.

I said "hello" to the sun and to the earth.

Sun Salutations took on more meaning. The flow of movement made me part of the natural breeze of living things. "Hello toes, I'm coming to meet you."

I have the perfect spot in my back yard. No cars driving by and no inside distractions. It was divine, but alas today it is dreary again and I can only remember.

Happy Birthday Emma No 1

Yesterday was Emma No. 1's birthday, she turned 8. I haven't seen her for a long while but I'm sure she has grown a lot.

She is hanging out in Germany for a while this summer. I remember the visits you made to Washington.

Here you are hanging with the Knitting Queen. And do you remember the special day you went to the temple with your family?

I hope you have a great time playing with Ollie this summer,

Happy Birthday!!!

Last Day of Early Morning Guests

Today we had our last Friday Breakfast and our last seminary day. My kitchen table has been our study spot for most of this year. I can say that my dishes have been done every morning thanks to their attendance. Scriptures out and quiet waiting for their arrival.

It warmed my heart to see them searching and their insights became more and more thoughtful as the year progressed.

I have a testimony about how much God loves these three students. He blessed me with ideas and extra knowledge not for my sake but for theirs. Mighty prayer on my part happened more often when the subject was about how to serve them.

My senior will be sorely missed next year. I have come to love. trust. and admire her. She is an example of diligence and preparation. She made us try harder to be little more like her.

Nolan has grown into a thoughtful, young man. He has always been so easy to talk to; he is good with people of all ages. I look to him to be our leader next year.
Geno has been patient with the demands of seminary. He puts up with lack of sleep, his sister correcting him, and my questions that don't have obvious answers. He will teach Henry the ropes next year.
And thank-you parents for the pancakes and french toast throughout the year.
Seminary has blessed my life!