Notes

I finally decided to give up the battle. I was spending money every month for Laine's piano lessons (which I'm happy to do if she's working at it), and she wasn't practicing and instead was complaining every day about her lessons. I have too much on my plate to keep after her about lessons, and right now, the money I've been spending on lessons can be used elsewhere (like the recent increase in my health insurance). She still has ongoing musical training as part of the concert choir at her school, which she's trying out for again next year, so I'll have to satisfy myself with that.

Johnny has been learning to play clarinet in school this year. The performances have been amazing! It turns out he has a natural musical ability with the clarinet, but he doesn't want to play any more after as soon as school is out. In fact, he would have quit this year except for the fact that I told him he had to make good on his promise to stick with it for the school year. I'm frustrated to see a child who has a talent like that not pursue it, and I hoped that a year of gradual improvement, performing and seeing his own progress would encourage him to continue, but it doesn't appear that it worked.

On the other hand, Kelly and Joe are loving their music. Kelly is learning to play piano and although she doesn't practice every day, she does practice often and has a lot of natural ability. It's a pleasure to pay for lessons when I can see that she loves it! And I love hearing her trying to work out a song by ear.

Joe's instrument of choice is guitar. He has both an electric guitar and an acoustic guitar. Lately he's been working really hard on learning to play, which is a pleasure. If he's not working on homework, then he's usually practicing. He looks up videos and stuff on the internet and is working on getting his callouses so that he can play for longer periods of time. He says this summer he wants to learn play really well. Makes a mom happy!