Observations from a Piano Bench

My daughter, Josephine, age 9, sat at her piano, practicing. She called to me from her seat, “Hey Mom! Did you know that a flat is sharp and a sharp is a flat?”

“Say what?”

“The black keys are both sharps AND flats! It just depends on what note you’re playing!”

“That’s neat. So, based on your perspective, the same key can have two totally different names.”

“That’s right! To A, the black note, or the sharp, is a big brother. But to B, the SAME black key is a flat. It’s a little sister.”

Two things: 1. Having your kids learn a musical instrument is an education all by itself. 2. Kids are naturally brilliant and I highly recommend hanging out with some on a regular basis.

Unschooled by Stuart Little

“Everyone will now take his or her seat!” commanded Stuart. The pupils filed obediently down the aisles and dropped into their seats and in a moment there was silence in the classroom. Stuart cleared his throat. Seizing a coat lapel in either hand, to make himself look like a professor, Stuart began:
“Anybody absent?”