Playing To Their Own Tune

I love school breaks and how the downtime and boredom produce creativity in our children. It is a pity that they don't have much of that time regularly during the rigours of the school year. Be that what it may, Luca and Emma have shown increased musical inspiration since the Christmas break.

Both are inspired to teach themselves songs that they want to play--i.e. no piano lesson songs, because those are boring.

Emma easily picked up the piano again after several years of not playing. She was taught in European music theory to identify notes in the Do-Re-Mi scale format instead of the Amerian A-B-C. Therefore, when she went to look up how to play a song on YouTube she felt more comfortable in transcribing the notes into a written format that made sense to her. I asked her why she didn't just copy the drawn notes and she said, this way was much easier for her. I didn't argue beyond that because the results spoke for themselves. When you have an ear for music, I guess you are allowed to do things in an unconventional way.

Emma's piano theory

Luca has never taken a piano lesson in his life and yet I think there is something mathematically appealing to piano playing. When looking at sheet music he can easily figure out the spacing between notes and how that corresponds to the keyboard. Just like ever since he was very little he didn't ever need to count the spaces on a board game to move forward 6 or 12 spaces, he could just do it visually in one move. Spacial-visual is his strength! However, his latest find is the YouTube tutorials that teach songs with "falling notes". He spent hours writing out this song and had it memorized in minutes. Again, there is no arguing from the peanut gallery because his results also speak for themselves. 

Luca's falling note methodology

This is just Emma and Luca "messing around" on the piano...this does not even touch what they are learning on the guitar! Luca has been taking guitar lessons since January. He is good and shows great potential, but hates to practice! I wonder if we can find falling notes for guitarists? haha

One day when Emma gives me the "green light" to post a video of her playing the guitar and singing--believe me you will be blown away! It is all self-taught with hours upon hours of practice behind closed doors in her room. She has an amazing voice! We have to sneak up to the door and listen since she has not quite built up the courage to share her talent willingly in front of us. Pleading and begging are not working!

Jonathan is beyond happy to see some musical desire and talent finally filtering down to his kids. They have the genes for it that is for sure...let's hope the passion continues!