Learning/Teaching piano to the 4 yo

Am v excited to see Miss J show an avid interest in learning piano.

She has been working out the notes with the help of this handy aide by Duanne Shinn.


She's been 'working through' Beth's old Yamaha books - Rollercoaster, Happy Elephant, Whales' Sneezes and all that - including the accompanying DVDs. Her enthusiasm is as real and palpable as her big sister's bo-chap "I am doing this because you forced me to" attitude towards music.

I am learning to accept that #1 is primarily motivated by Art and Books and #2 is the one who has the greater probability of excelling in Music.

We have a secondhand violin which was given by my BIL and Miss J says she wants to learn violin (too).

Am now looking out for a good (Suzuki accredited?) violin teacher in the western suburbs.

My Durian Girl

I have found the perfect metaphor for my firstborn.

She is a Durian.

Tough and prickly on the outside (tick).

But if you persist long enough, you will be rewarded with the funny, sweet, unique side that she keeps well concealed under her brusque manners.

And as with durians, not all will agree that prying apart that tough exterior is worth the effort.

She - like the King of Fruits - is an acquired taste. :-)

Making memories for me and my girls

Happiness is made up of the really simple things.

Doing fun (and not so fun) things together.

Here are some fave memories from 2010 of me and my growing-too-fast girls.