Piano Lessons

Cultivating skills in our children that will serve them the rest of their lives is of great importance to us as parents.  Granted we may not necessarily have a plethora of opportunities available to our children in this culture, but there are many things in which are and must be taught from the home.  For example, how to be a hospitable host and serve others within our home.  How to be a gracious guest and engage in meaningful conversation with adults and peers.  Encouraging reading both individually and together as a family.  Providing cultural experiences through travel, museums and interactions with different cultures.  All those things on top of our greatest emphasis and desire for them to know, love, and serve Christ.  The list goes on and will continue to grow as we are contstantly learning as parents, and see the unique talents and interests develop in each of our children.

All that to say, we have enrolled Samuel and Emma in piano lessons to provide them with a basic knowledge and experience in music.  With the musical talent given to their father and the continual prescence of music in our home on a daily basis, we hope this will be a launching point for them to develop musically, whether they stick with piano or specialize in another instrument.

We have been talking about this venture for a while now.  The big problem being we did not have a piano!  We inquired about lessons from the music association here in Leinì and got the kids signed up even before we had the piano.  We are so grateful for the Lord's provision to be able to purchase our first digital piano.  And the kids (so far, after 2 lessons) are very excited about it all.

The music school is on the upper level of the red building located in the main piazza of town.

The first lesson the kids did together.  However, they now are having separate half-hour lessons each. They like their maestro, Mauro.

We had to shuffle around the living room to make room for the piano.  Poor Mac was so discombobulated each time we moved his house, but I think we have found the ideal solution--until we need to make room for the Christmas tree. :)

And as a side note, Jonathan too is taking classical guitar lessons from the same school.  I find it hard to believe that he NEVER has taken a guitar lesson in his life!  What did I say about God given talent?!  The lessons are two-fold in wanting to learn a new technique and style (he loves a challenge) and also so he can get his foot in the door with the music community.  We pray that through special events for the kids and future opportunities we might make a new circle of contacts in our community.

Here is a video I got away with taking only because it was their first lesson and possibly the only one I will get to.  Jonathan takes the kids as I need to have dinner ready to go when they arrive home at 6:15 so Jonathan can be out the door again an hour later for English on Wednesday nights.  Not really ideal to add to his marathon Wednesdays, but it was the only opening available.  I guess beggers can't be choosers!