Cate has been really enjoying the piano lately. In fact, I'd say that the purchase of a real piano (electronic, but a big step up from the little 2-octave keyboard she had been using) was an excellent birthday present and has been a huge success. I think she'd rate it as her favorite "toy" in the house.

Unlike most kids (including me at her age) I rarely need to encourage her to practice. My biggest problem comes from getting her to practice the songs that she's been assigned from her teacher -- she likes playing so much that she often skips around in her books picking songs that interest her to practice. Our other big issue? Getting her to play the songs the way they are written. She likes to play around with the tempo and stylings (adding in some staccato or a little peddle where she sees fit. Really, what does Bach know over the stylings of Cate Loudon?). This is all good and fine, but we've been having to put our foot down about also learning each song the way that the song has been composed.

Once she learns a song it's here to stay -- she's included "Ode to Joy" in this little mini concert, which was her recital song from last Spring. Here she put together a few songs that she's been working on in recent weeks as a mini concert -- I think she really want to share them with her grandparents.

[NOTE: Blogger isn't letting me upload video. I'll try another day!]