A teacher came to purchase music today at Ellis Piano, where I am the Music Manager, and told me that she had a seven-year old boy playing my music called "The Lonely Ghost." This piece is an early elementary educational piano piece. She told me that, after playing the composition at his last lesson, the young student said, "This ghost really is so lonely . . . I think he needs a vampire for a friend!" The teacher went on to say how much the young boy was enjoying learning "The Lonely Ghost." She was happy that he had been inspired enough to give some thought as to what would help the ghost be less lonely. I was happy to hear this, too, because that is my goal in writing material for children - to help them become engaged in a make-believe story and also have them love music, while learning the basics of playing the piano.
I taught piano lessons for 20 years, so I discovered quickly that children are thinkers and really ponder ideas and concepts that are presented to them in their pieces. My purpose for composing "The Lonely Ghost," other than to teach pedagogical concepts, was to help children view ghosts as being vulnerable and harmless. The ghost in the composition is lonely because he has no friends, since everyone is afraid of him. I wanted kids to NOT be scared of spooks. The seven-year old student mentioned in the above paragraph obviously picked up on my thoughts because his first idea was that the ghost needed a friend to make him (the ghost) feel less isolated.
As this teacher and I continued our conversation, she said, "Now you have to write a piece about a vampire!" I had forgotten what a vampire was, so I had to go online and read up on the subject. Hmm, I thought to myself. I'm not sure if it is possible to make a vampire seem vulnerable and harmless, but I'll give it my best shot. After all, I loved homework assignments when I was in school, and I still love them today.
This assignment may have to wait until next Halloween, though!
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