Parent Corner: Growing Admirable Hearts

Recently I was reflecting on what positive things I could say about the year 2020.  After thinking about it, I realized that the year 2020 marks our sixth year with the Indianapolis Suzuki Academy.  I thought back to our early days, attending lessons with our three year old daughter, along with our toddler and infant.  I remember during those days of singing, clapping, and dancing to the rhythm of Mississippi Hop Frog that I had the feeling that we were giving our daughter a great gift with the introduction of music, and I had the realization of just how hard this journey might be.  I wondered how we could possibly find a way to practice consistently, and I worried over how quickly or slowly she made progress. 

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As the years have gone by we have gone from having one child in piano lessons to four, we have found better practice routines, and we have watched as our children made quick and slow progress through their books.  While early on I looked for signs of progress in how quickly we moved through songs, or how easily my children took to a new practice schedule, as time went on I realized I was witnessing something far more beautiful happening in the lives of our children.  They were learning how to play the piano, but they were also learning so much more. They learned how a caring and devoted teacher can inspire you to love the music you play, they learned how to speak to themselves with kindness as they work on a new skill, and they are learning how their efforts can bring so much joy to the friends and family that they play for. 

Music exists for the purpose of growing an admirable heart.
~ Shinichi Suzuki

If I could go back in time to speak to my former self, I would try to encourage her to recognize that this journey may be challenging at times but to recognize that practice routines and piano skills are simply tools that will produce the really important result, a beautiful heart.

~ Meredith Bowes