Witnessing students' growth over many years

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The 16year-old piano student I have been teaching since he was 6 but was taking a leave for the last 2 years suddenly came to visit me with his lovely parents.

His parents always did encourage him to do well by helping him to enter a very good school, letting him learn English, and music from a young age, and always supporting him.

He came to say " Hi "to me before he was going to leave for the U.S.A for one year as a High school exchange student.

Actually, in the essay to apply for this exchange program, he wrote " My strength was Basket ball and Piano, I played Chopin's revolutionary etude at the last concert." (He did play at our students' recital 2 years ago.)

Thus there is a big chance that he would be asked to play piano by his host family and board members, he was planning to come to me during August to relearn the etude. Then, suddenly, his departure date was picked for the next week.

Hahaha,

He came to say Bye and also he did play for me a little. To my good surprise, he remembered 2/3 of the notes and fingerings. I did push him hard,, It was rewarded!

Fortunately, nowadays, we can do lessons online.

He used to be a little chubby boy but now, he is so tall. Look at the size of his hands!! He can reach easily the 9th!! I am very jealous!

His parents told me how grateful they were for how I taught him, I did not push him to do the standard piano method but just along with finger training & music theory( reading,) I let him learn pieces he and his parents loved. famous pieces of music that bore names, He did some chamber music, and he also did a duo with his friend who played violin.

He said when he comes back, he would love to master "F. Liszt's, La Campanella."

I am looking forward.

Have a wonderful experience, K!

As a souvenir, I gave him one of the finger training balls so that he could train his fingers at least in the airplane or when he gets bored and his hands are free.

Thank you for your visit at the last minute's hectic schedule before your departure!!

May God protect you and bless you!

吉田まどか