Why Music Lessons Make Me Want To Drink.

A MYC teacher in Alberta has 2 students whose mom enjoys blogging and blogged about piano practice with her children. The account is quite comical, and you know . . . she’s not alone in this . . . even the music teacher’s children have been know to occasionally (okay, that isn’t the right word . . . um . . . I know . . .) OFTEN do the same thing. The crazy thing is that I remember doing this to my mom when I practiced and I have to say that I’m thankful that she stuck with it because I love playing piano and teaching . . . if she had of just given up on me I would not be the person that I am today – so thank you Mom, and I’m glad you survived me!!!

Why Music Lessons Make Me Want To Drink
Posted on April 20, 2011 by Leanne Shirtliffe (Ironic Mom)

“I have my six-year-old twins in this fantastic piano program: it’s interactive, it’s fun, and it’s instructive. Unfortunately it’s also parented, which means once a week I get to sit through the longest hour of my life.

It would be fine if I didn’t have the problem child. Most weeks it’s William, but sometimes Vivian takes a shot at the title. In addition to my kids, there are three other children in this class. I’m pretty sure all of them have the same middle name: Angel.

But just when I think it can’t get worse than the lesson, the next day comes and we have to practice.

This is Vivian’s Practicing Strategy:

1. Eagerly plays the piece.
2. Melts down when she makes a mistake (which may or may not involve flinging the book across the room).
3. Blames me.
4. Starts the piece over.
5. Repeats until I bang my forehead onto the keys (I’m not exaggerating) or until she plays the piece perfectly.

This is William’s Practicing Strategy:

1. Waits till I catch him and fireman-carry him into the library.
2. Races out of library. Returns with toy-of-the-day, such as a large car. Places toy on keyboard. Drives toy over keys. Freaks out when I take toy away.
3. Plays keys with forehead. Looks up long enough to see my death stare.
4. Does what he’s supposed to: C scale with modified chords.
5. Whines when I tell him to practice the scale down too. Presses the sound effect key on keyboard and plays vomit key, machine gun key, and rooster key. Freaks out when I turn sound effect key off. Turns sound effect key on again. Gives me the I-hate-you look when I threaten to take before-bed-TV-time (worst parenting routine ever) away.
6. Does what he’s supposed to: Plays first song.
7. Starts telling me about the latest episode of Sponge Bob Square Pants. Watches my puppet show about Bass Clef Puppet (who whines because he doesn’t have much to do in the next song) and Treble Clef Puppet (who whines about having too much to do). Note: this is not part of the program, but the action of a desperate mother.
8. Does what he’s supposed to: Plays second song.
9. Goes back to sound effect key. Ignores me as I walk out of room.
10. Does what he’s supposed to: Plays third song.

And do you want to know what’s really crazy?

I’m going to do it again next year.”

For more of Ironic Mom’s posts you can always check her blog at www.ironicmom.com