I intend for this thread to be a place for little victories, frustrations, thoughts, weirdness, and funny stories that occur daily when you teach piano but aren't worth starting a whole thread about.

I'll go first: For some reason, one of my piano students brought me a valentine bag full of fruit, bread, cheese, and chocolate, plus a bottle of Martinelli's cider (I'm LDS and don't drink alcohol). It's such a nice thing. I'm sure it came from his parents, but still. I don't even get Christmas gifts from most of my students. Maybe I'll hand out chocolate hearts this week because I'm feeling festive.

Nice idea, Brinestone!

Okay, I have something to share, but didn't want to start my own thread, so I'll jump in!

I had to have my cat put down last week. She was a wonderful cat, and all my students loved her. She was all white, very gentle, loved children. She used to sit by the front door waiting for them, and it was pathetic over the holidays when no one came, and she waited in vain. She would usually sit on the back of my chair while I taught, but had a few she would sit next to on the bench. When I went out of town, several of my students took turns stopping by the house to take care of her. She would curl up with any waiting sibling during lessons.

She was 16 and we suspected for awhile that she had cancer, but went down hill very fast - over just a few days, and most of my students didn't even know she was sick. On Monday, when I realized the time had come, I sent out an email to all my piano parents, so that they could tell their children. I didn't want to have to tell the story over and over, and deal with the reactions.

Even so, I had one student in tears, and another with lots of questions, and got a few hugs. (Two students this week asked where she was, so I know their parents didn't do as I asked.) But, on Thursday one of my students showed up with a bouquet of a dozen white tulips in her honor. I thought that was really sweet.

Thanks for the topic Brinestone.

I had a 6 year old student who danced in a Chinese New Year celebration. Her mother sent pictures to me by email. At her lesson this week I told her I saw her pictures from the New Year celebration and said "You looked beautiful!". She quietly and humbly said "I know".

I love the honestly and simplicity of 5 and 6 year olds!

Not too long ago, my 12 yr old student finished playing a piece and sighed. He looked at me and said, "Mrs. M., could I play that again with better phrasing?"

When a 4-yr old student was going through My First Piano Adventures and got to the song "Press that little chocolate chip", she and her mom baked me a plate of chocolate chip cookies!

Lollipop you brought a tear (or 2) to my eye... that's all I can say.

Thank goodness for Minniemay a few posts further down. I burst out laughing.

But I'm still sort of teary at same time. will post a small anecdote another time. Brinestone, Ann and Crayola - lovely stories too, thank you

Lollipop - I too got a bit teary reading your post. My teacher has a 9 month old cat that runs around like a crazy thing during most piano lessons - but for some reason has fallen in love with me... and sits next to me or ON me during my lessons. I look forward to seeing Buttercup as much as I look forward to catching up with my teacher each week. So your post really touched me.

And Ann... lol...you gotta love the little ones. I took a photo of one of my students and showed her what she looked like sitting at the piano - and her response was "I look so pretty!"

Lollipop, your cat is adorable!

Lollopop, your story touched me. I only have a few students, but they love my cat, who is such a placid and friendly fellow. My guitar student's mother is allergic to cats, so they can't have a cat, but she loves them. Sometimes I think she only keeps guitar going because she loves coming round to see my cat. The cat loves lessons because we all sit on the sofa and he cuddles and dribbles.

The other student also loves cats, and her brother comes, and first thing they do is come in and pet the cat.

My cat is about 18 years old, which is ancient for a neutered Tom. He's not been well lately and needed hospital treatment last week. He's perked up as a result of fluids but we know he has a liver problem - we just don't know how serious. I do understand that he won't live forever and I will miss him dreadfully when he goes.

When I was at school, my piano teacher was a cat lady. Under her grand piano was a plastic bowl full of newspaper - the cats' bathroom. I'm afraid she became known as "old cats-muck" and I eventually gave up lessons. A pity, because I was heading for music college (with another instrument as my main study). I soon found another teacher though.

At one time I owned 3 cats. Rather by mistake - the sort of way you DO sometimes end up with too many cats. Cats compete for territory, and they compete by peeing on things. I cleaned it up, but... You know how it's now acceptable to say "sorry, I can't stay in this room because of the cigarette smell"? Well, people don't like to say that about cats, but maybe they should.

I am very fond of my present, single, cat. I fully appreciate the companionship a cat gives, particularly to single ladies. But I am also aware that a litter tray within nose-range of a visitor is as unaceptable as cigarette smoke or continual flatulence.

I'm so sorry, Lollypop! My old kitty is much the same...she is 20 and loves attention from my students and will usually sit on the lap of any parent who stays. I know it will be a sad day when she leaves us.

What an enjoyable/touching thread! Like others, I too misted over after Lollipop's story... especially when I got to the part about the white tulips. How sweet.

I'll contribute one of my favorite little moments... I have an elementary-level student who has a vivid imagination and bubbly personality but sometimes doesn't get the "technical" names for new concepts. I knew it was time for review on ties when I pointed to one in his piece and asked him, "What's this?" He promptly responded, "a hangover."

Hahaha, I love it!

I also loved the part about the white tulips.

Oh, Lollipop! That story was so sad.

I, too, have a studio mascot, and recently wrote a blog about him:

http://marywilliamspianostudio.com/blog_files/piano_mascot.html

I've often thought, 'What will happen to my students when Skip passes,' as like many others, most of my student probably wouldn't come to lessons if Skip wasn't present.

You've given me insight, Lollipop. My condolences go out to you. Pets are family.

Thanks for all the kind words from everyone. The house still feels rather empty and quiet without Wish. She was my daughter's cat, a present for her 6th birthday, but as my son said, she liked me best. The students are all hoping I'll get another kitten some day, but my husband says no. I'll let you know who wins.

Mary, that's sweet that Skip and your student formed a bond. Wish liked to walk on a leash, too, (otherwise she was indoor only) and one of my students used to take her out while he was waiting for his lesson. He's the same student who came to his lesson in tears after he heard.

One of my former students (moved away) told me outright that she came to see Wish, not me. Whatever works!

Oh, and Sarah - cute story!

Oh wow wow wow!

That's so funny, but so sad too....

Little Victory Department: Last night, HS student came and amazingly had mastered and memorized Sonatina for upcoming recital. Had been struggling with this for months. By struggling, I mean not really practicing it diligently. Anyway, I congratulated student on major achievement and wondered aloud whether we should have monthly recitals so that students are motivated to get all their repertoire up to snuff. Student has big grin on face from complement and agrees with the monthly recital idea. Then I said, "Wait a minute, we do have monthly recitals, but you never show up." "What monthly recitals?" student replies. For Pianists Only, our monthly group lesson, which is 45 min of class work on theory and 45 minutes of performance by students. "Oh," says student, "I always wondered what that was." "I've been telling you for three years now, but I'll take a light bulb moment whenever I can get it. Now, let's get our Greig prepped the same way as you've done with the sonatina, then you'll be ready to present at next month's class." One down, many, many more to go.

All these are great!

Lollipop, so very *very* sorry for your loss. My dog is my family, and all my students are just *crazy* in love with him. He is only 5, so hopefully will be with us for a long time yet, but I do think sometimes about how awful it will be when I lose him someday. He is an integral part of our home and the whole piano lesson routine.

This evening was cold and rainy. I had a 6 year old student show up in a velvet dress with little roses on front. She had on large clip on earrings and makeup too. I said "You're all dressed up! Is there a special occasion you're celebrating?" and she said "I was off school today!" (President's Day).

I love the enthusiasm!

I know what you mean. I have a 2nd grade girl who comes to every lesson dressed as if she's going to perform in Carnegie Hall! It is really nice and shows great respect on the part of the parents. I always work extra hard with her, just because she lifts my spirits!

Last evening, my best high school student was a bit unfocused. Quite unusual for this guy. When I was on Facebook later, I saw his post that he now has a girlfriend (his first). He popped up a chat window saying, "Now you know why I was unfocused . . ." Ah, young love!

Yes, this child really did lift my spirits too. And the mother told me on facebook that her daughter loved being dressed up and "performing" on my baby grand piano.

This small occurrence was really uplifting at a time I needed some light heartedness. (I have been grieving over our 14 year old dog who was put down on Saturday...after a year of declining health...dealing with the guilt of the decision etc.)

I wonder if having a girlfriend could motivate your student to play beautifully...as a way to impress her. When my son started lessons (age 10) a neighbor told him that he "got two girlfriends in college" because they were impressed by his piano playing.

Oh, he doesn't need motivation to play beautifully. He plays like a real artist. He just lost concentration.

Oops! And you even mentioned he was your best high school student. I goofed.

Loving this thread!

Lollipop - I am so, so sorry about your kitty. I had to say goodbye to my precious kitty last year, and it was incredibly devastating. My students were very affected as well; I think they liked coming to see her more than they did me.

My contribution...so last week, as I was having a lesson with a 6-year-old boy I've had for a while, he said the word "stupid." I told him that I would prefer if he doesn't use that kind of language during lessons (I'm pretty strict on respect during lessons), and he said, "Oh, you mean words like stupid and crap and butt? My mom doesn't like me to say those either. That's why I say them at school." LOL!

I had a 6 year old student who brought me this hand written note:

"for Miss lastname

Dear Miss lastname, Mabye my
levels would be higher
than John's. If I don't
be goofy I might
get songs higher than
you exected. I might
be in level 1 in earl-
y April. if I don't be
goofy."

This is a child who has needed reminders about appropriate behavior...i.e not to grab my arm when I turn a page...not to shout at me etc. Lately she has really made effort to listen, and she's progressing very well. (She was my 4th student today and the only one so far who came well prepared.)

I just thought it was sweet that she write this note to me. And it shows her intention to behave and learn the best she can.

One of my students has perfect pitch and very, very picky taste in music. I'm struggling to motivate him to learn to read music because he can play much cooler songs without ever glancing at a book. I just introduced him to a book of complete scores by Ben Folds Five, whom he'd never heard of (specifically the song "Narcolepsy). He loves it! He's actually looking at the music and practicing hard, and he came to his lesson saying he'd been listening to lots of Ben Folds stuff lately and had learned bits of five different songs by ear.

For the record, I'm strongly encouraging ear training, a strong foundation in theory, and even composition with this kid, in addition to reading music. He's not going to end up a concert pianist, but he very well may be in a band someday, and he might as well have a full toolkit for that. He understands that reading music is a valuable tool with this as his career goal.

A 7 year old student told me yesterday "You don't have a real booster seat. You just use old junk from around the house."

(I use a seat cushion that has a pouch for keeping keys/money and has a carrying handle...probably intended to use for ballgames. Also I use a large colorful floor mat (interlocking kind) cut in half and stacked.)

I had to laugh because these are items that my husband acquired years ago. They have been mostly unused, and now repurposed to be booster seats for the piano bench.