Didn't we mention we are a musical family?

We have been planning for the girls to start music lessons since before they were born. We have surrounded them with instruments and music their entire lives, without formal teaching or structure, quickly graduating them from my first early learning centre instruments, to encouraging them to have a strum on a guitar, ukulele, or play the keyboard and piano. 

We have taught them respect for instruments but to not be afraid of them and just have a play around with them. They have their own music playlists, we allow them to explore different genres and choose the styles they personally prefer.

Sophia processes through music, she creates multiple songs on a daily basis on every subject matter under the sun, and now she puts her lyrics to music, as she has access to the piano and keyboard between the strict hours of 9am-5pm.

I have recently started Sophia on a music theory learning scheme, which combines colouring, music theory, with a handy inbuilt reading lesson, and she is loving it. 

Leighton holds the vision of the musical future for our family, and I entrust it fully to him as the resident expert of the household (I cannot hold a tune in a bucket). He has been researching for the right music instructor for the family for months and has finally found the perfect one, who can teach the grades, varying instruments and music production. It will be a long term investment, a mix between zoom and physical lessons on a weekly basis. The teacher is great and bonded immediately with the girls and we're very happy with her as well. She loves the fact we want to be taught as a family unit.

The teacher was initially very reluctant to include Kira in the lessons, she was adamant that four year olds are too young for formal lessons. It took a lot of persuasion on my side for her to agree to give Kira a chance. Within a few minutes of meeting Kira however, the teacher was mouthing 'wow' to me over her head. She frequently admitted throughout the lesson that in some areas Kira's level is higher than some of her ten year old students. 

The teacher learnt that when Kira acts like she's distracted or in her own little world it actually means she's bored and she's ready to move on. Time and time again she surprised the teacher in fulfilling the task in hand having been 'brought back into line' and refocused. She showed she had been listening and absorbing knowledge, simply processing it in her own way. 

The lesson ended on a high note as the teacher was asking me to review the lesson content back to Kira, and Kira just launched into full review mode, like she does when I ask her to recap knowledge. She went through every single exercise they had covered in order without prompting and was correct in all except for being able to play old Macdonald which to be fair is her homework. The teachers jaw was hitting the floor seeing Kira in her best form. 

Sophia was incredibly nervous before the lesson, she needed a lot of calming time, so she was mentally tired by the time it was her turn for the lesson. That being said she was impeccably behaved and impressed the teacher with her natural ability and concentration. 

Whenever Sophia played a spontaneous piece the teacher questioned what it was called, thinking it was a learnt piece. Apparently untrained six year olds shouldn't be able to produce music to that level by ear, including triads. 

Now I wouldn't know. I enjoy Sophia's music and I can appreciate she is improving, however I am not musically inclined. I learning alongside them. Anything musical related is fully on them and their Daddy, who comes from a family of performers. 

In this scenario, I take credit for their manners and ability to follow instructions and to behave in a class. The girls felt comfortable enough to be themselves, they didn't have to stifle their individuality and they loved their lesson. 

Bring on next week! 


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