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Year Four, Day 312: What is this Piano Lesson Boom?

 Hello Friends!

Happy Wednesday!  Spring term began this Monday.  I was so happy to be back in my piano lab. My students came bounding in, some of them without masks.  I was just so relieved to be maskless! I smile a lot when I teach. But portraying a smile with my eyes just didn't cut it.  

My students all were excited about coming back into class. I told them I missed my piano so much, that I decided to name my piano and encouraged them to do the same! It was great fun.

I am determined to hit the gym everyday before teaching, to keep my energy up and my mood positive.  I have more students now than ever, and still more parents are inquiring about lessons for their kids.  

What is this piano lesson boom?

I am not going to question it much. Just enjoy it!  

In addition to my daily gym workouts, I have stayed pretty close to 500 calories or less on my fasting days (Monday, Wednesday and Friday).

As of today I have lost 6 pounds!  It is not that difficult. When I feel gnawing hunger pains on my fast days, I tell myself I am burning fat and I can eat what I want the next day.  I usually eat pretty healthy on my non fast days, but occasionally binge a bit in the evening. 


But it does not seem to matter! I am still slowly losing weight and my workouts are helping me tone. I must add a disclaimer here: I do not work out very long or hard, just consistently.


I had a student yesterday - an 8 year-old boy - who sauntered into class yesterday and said he wanted to be a famous musician and an engineer when he grew up. But he didn't want to learn his note names, hand positions, finger numbers or even left from right hand.  He wanted to do it his way. 

I told him if he wanted to be a great musician, he needed to start with the basics. I told him the story of when I first decided I wanted to learn to hula hoop, I could barely get it to go around me one rotation.  So I did an experiment one summer. I went out to the backyard every day and attempted to hoop. By the end of the summer, I could hoop up to 2,000 rotations in one session!


Consistency pays off!


So I am fasting 3 days a week, working out at least 5 days a week, blogging about every other day - I am aiming for daily blogging again - and the biggest addition is I am starting to practice the piano again!


I believe I mentioned in my last post how much I miss playing and practicing.  I have even toyed with the idea of putting together a performance.


As usual, time has gotten away from me. I am staying temporarily with my son, daughter-in-law, co-grandma and grandkids until I can move into my new apartment.  I realize how much I miss sitting and shooting the breeze with someone I care about. My daughter-in-law is wise beyond her years. Talking to her has helped my mental clarity almost as much as my beloved pandemic counselor!

The added bonus, is sitting on the couch feeding the baby or playing trucks with my grandson while we talk and I sip my morning tea.


But, now I need to head out.  I am going to share with you a snippet of my first practice session. I have decided to finally try and master the Fantasie-Impromptu by Frederic Chopin.


Here it is.  

https://youtu.be/1R3NSUQ3jp0

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Talk soon - maybe even tomorrow!

Love,


Zita




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