Piano: Experiment of Repressing

We are experimenting a new schedule for piano lesson. It was 8:30am, the beginning of the busiest day of the week! To have it at the end of day was not a good practice. After the Chinese program, the ballet, and probably a birthday party once in a while, sitting in a quite room with only the sound of music is most definitely an unwinding act. I consulted other parents. Kids at this age always go to their piano lesson to start the day.

We had a little setback this week. Sienna was doing a piece that had a half-note (2 counts) in between two quarter-notes (1 count) in a 4/4 measure. This has been the most difficult piece so far and according to the teacher, the ones following it for a while won't be this hard. Sienna didn't want to put her confidence on the line for testing. I sat there and waited out with her, promising no snacks if practice was not done as required. Two evenings later, she accepted her fate. Today, we came back from the lesson. She went on the piano voluntarily. Most amazingly, she played out the number without looking at the notes and with no stumbling.

Who says love is all it takes to raise a child? It's such a repressing process for a little person. Leaving her to fall asleep on her own in her own bed in her own room was the beginning of it. Sending her to school full time is another. I am so glad I took no part in repressing her through counting and reading. When I exercise the repression, I have to repress my own emotions. If I had not repressed myself, she would not be repressed in anyway. She would be growing up in a cradle for ever. If the parents are not willing to see repression occur in where they want, the society will come to give the real punch. Then there will be no love and the emotions to provide a steady cushion to reduce the impact of the real repression. There would be too late for the child to sustain the restraints that they are not used to.

Having said these, I have to say balance is still the key words in going through this process. Where, when, how and how much the repression should take place are all up to the best judgement of the parents. That's why I say parenting is such an exciting experiment that you must do with the best of your knowledge and instinct.