Conversations with a "would be" prodigy (but not quite!)

"Merrick, now that you've learned to read numbers and letters so well, it's time to learn to read music."

"No, I can't do that! What is it anyway?" (Is that a typical sanguine response, or what!?)

"Well, you know how music has lines and little dots with sticks on them on the lines?" Head nods in response. (For the past two days he has dragged a song book around the house studying both the music and the words to Phantom of the Opera.)

I continue my explanation. "Well, the little dots tell you what notes to play and the rhythm, too. On a piano, we play notes with letter names - ABCDEFGA." (I here sing an A minor scale to demonstrate.)

"Oh. I can do that!" And off he runs, only to return with a book of Chopin sonatas. After several attempts at reading the name, he resigned himself to asking for help. "What does this say?" We all smile and tell him, letting him know that he would probably not be starting with Chopin.

Undaunted by this doubtful response, he headed straight to the keyboard, determined to sort through the myriad of little black notes found on any given page of a Chopin sonata. I told Louissa that she had a very eager student, and she quickly joined him on the bench for a few pointers. (Is she not a sweetheart?) In no time at all, I heard the joyful tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" being played. Running in to show me his new primer, he exalted, "Mom, did you hear my music?"

Oh, the joy of learning - and oh, the privilege of learning at home!