Piano Recitals...

Another piano recital is finished... I can't believe how much they have grown lately...

Walker started piano lessons in 3rd grade a year older than when Ainsley started since he just wasn't ready... it would have been quite the struggle at that time to enforce practicing. We wanted music to be a life time love... not something he absolutely hated or something that we fought over.  So very glad we waited that extra year... gave him time to grow and learn those patience listening skills!!

He is now at the same level of piano skills as Ainsley... really makes her mad that he can play the same pieces when he is 2 years younger!!  We've been really lucky and have gotten really good teachers... our current piano teacher realized early on that Walker loved to play pieces fast and loud and has found pieces that fit those criteria to make it an enjoyable experience.  He played a jazzy piece for the fall recital and really loved it...

Ainsley has been struggling with piano lately... her interests have changed the past year (cheer... high school... boys and friends) She dreads practicing and going to lessons... we have lots of chats about practicing vs facetiming and texting friends.  I think just about every week she asks,"Do I have to keep taking lessons?!?"  She loves to play for fun especially current pop songs but actually lesson songs she hates... I reminded her this week that Walker was going to pass her up soon (hoping to instill some competitive drive) and she says, "Fine... I don't care!"

We were down to the wire with the nagging to practice for the fall recital... I even made her come home first to practice before she could go to the football game that was after school... yeah that was a fun practice!  She pulled it off though... whew!