ACHIEVE

   My family and I have been Extreme Makeover: Home Edition fans for years.  If we were home on Sunday evening, everyone knew that the TV could only be tuned to one channel at 8:00.  Just last week they moved the show time to Friday nights, which makes it a little trickier to watch....BUT....thankfully there is On Demand and episodes online.  The episode from October 21 took place in York, Pennsylvania, and I was touched by Brian Keefer's determination and the whole family's dedication to each other.
   Brian suffered a spinal cord injury that has left him paralyzed from the neck down.  However, he is determined to walk again and works extremely hard to make each small step towards his recovery.  His dad has dedicated his time and energy to be Brian's personal caretaker.  He attends college with Brian and takes care of the physical therapy sessions that must happen every day in order to strengthen Brian's muscles.
   During the show, they introduce two other men who suffered paralyzing injuries similar to Brian.  One man now runs in marathons, and the other just walked his first mile.  Their message to Brian is clear:  Believe, work hard, and you will succeed.
   The makeover team installs a therapy pool in the Keefer home to provide vital aqua therapy to Brian.  The side of the pool is decorated with the word ACHIEVE to remind Brian that each small step is an achievement and will lead to his goal of walking again.  Watching Brian in the pool at the end of the show brought tears to my eyes.  In the water, where the pull of gravity is negated, Brian can move his arms freely and he can stand.  


   In my last blog entry I encouraged parents to tell their children what they have done well when they play a piece.  We want them to understand that every step, no matter how small, is an achievement.  Small achievements help us reach large goals.  That goal might be to learn the second Minuet in G in book 2, to finish an entire Clementi Sonatina, to write a computer program, or to reach a business goal.  The life applications are endless.


   Are you helping your child learn how to achieve?


Here is a link to the second part of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition show.  This part contains the message about achievement.  You will be inspired by the Keefer family!
http://abc.go.com/watch/extreme-makeover-home-edition/SH559052/VD55149279/keefer-family-part-2

"Success Breeds Success"

   Dr. Shinichi Suzuki focused a lot on taking small steps in the learning process so that each child is sure to succeed.  By dividing skills or difficult passages into smaller units, the student is able to master each step and to gain confidence as they continue learning.  Every child is different, and not all students will need every small step.  As I work with my students during lessons I am constantly learning more about them and I try to present skills and musical pieces in a way that will help them do their best with confidence.

   As home teachers, parents can continue this process of success.  Cultivate a positive environment by giving specific comments on what the child did well.  If, for example, your child plays an excellent, soft piano section during Allegretto 1, tell them how well it worked.  Even if (or perhaps especially if) you think it was an accident and they were unaware of what they did, draw attention to the positive thing you observed in their playing.  They will happily work to repeat that success.
  As your child works on each step they have been assigned, acknowledge the effort they make.  Praise each achievement.

   If your child is really struggling with a song, look for a way to create a smaller step to work on.  If you are not sure what to do, please feel free to call me!  I would rather find a way to ensure positive success than have you wait and endure a frustrating week of practice with little progress.

  "Success breeds success," Dr. Suzuki said, and one positive practice session motivates students and parents for the next day's practice.

Inspirational Listening

Every week the show "From the Top" airs on PBS and on NPR.  This wonderful show features young musicians with incredible ability.


This past week featured a Suzuki piano student, 8 year old Gavin George.  He is the youngest to be selected to play on the show!

 Click here to hear the whole From the Top episode.

For more from Gavin, visit his YouTube Channel.