Hello Friend! What is rolling around in my head today? Music! As I prepare for another semester of piano lessons; I am considering what I will teach my students so that they will 1. want to continue lessons, 2. feel equipped and confident if asked to play in church, and 3. Enjoy playing music in their spare time at home. I am also considering the parents that have to listen to them while they practice! As one of the latter group, I try and chose songs and excercises that are pleasant to listen to, even in the beginning stages. While playing through one of my old piano lesson books, I was reminded why I don't use them. The songs were all unfamiliar and honestly very boring or silly. The foolishness that is bound in the heart of the child is not encouraged by scripture. I am not saying that fun is to be excluded; but being silly and non-sensical is not the only way for little people to have fun. I prefer to use songs in our lessons that are somewhat familiar to the children- songs that they have heard, or may hear often in their natural environment. Nursery rhyme songs, Sunday School songs, classic hymns and several familiar classical pieces. I was once asked by a piano teacher, "What do you do when a student wants to play a piece that they are not ready for?". My solution is to search for a simplified version of it and offer that to them and advance as far as they are willing to go. Sometimes their attention span, talent, interest, and work ethic will allow them to advance to the original piece, sometimes it won't. Either way, we try it. Another thing that I consider when planning is how I see my own children advancing in thier musical ability. What are my methods producing? While listening to my children play piano at home, I often notice how well they remember how to play former pieces, play songs by ear, and invent new songs. They each often play around on the piano and have fun making their own songs. They aren't afraid to hear a tune and try to play it themselves. I see this as a strength in the way that they are being taught. Our weakness, of course, is sight reading. While they are learing to sight read, they often remember so well what I have modeled for them, that I have to watch that I don't show them too much. My daughter, Aaliyah, played a portion of Revolutionary Etude by Chopin at her final recital. She loves that song and wanted to play it; but I refused to learn it and teach it to her. Her solution: learn it on her own. She did a great job and still plays it often just for fun. I did make her learn most of Beethovan's Fifth Prelude and scrutenized her heavily on playing it acurately according to her sheet music. Notice that I said her "final" recital. She will be continuing her piano studies; but not with me. She exhibits talent that I don't feel qualified to develop further. This semester is our fall semester and we usually have our recital just before Christmas. Naturally, we play a number of Christmas songs at the recital. This year will be no different; but I also want each student to play a hymn. I have chosen twelve hymns that I want each of my students to be able to play at their level. I have chosen my favorite hymns that are often sung in our church. In closing, I want to ask you, what hymns would make it to your favorites list? What song do you love and have always wanted to learn to play - on the piano or otherwise? Until next time,

Hello Friend! Today's topic is "Seasons". This word has been rolling around in my head for some time now. It first began when I looked across the yard at my neighbor's lawn and saw a beautifully manucured lawn and garden. Then, as I went to check the mail, I looked at our next door neighbor's yard and saw several beautiful flower beds. I walked around to the backyard and and saw more beautiful flowers and some nice trees as well, including a fig tree with several figs that are soon to be ripe. I started schemeing and planning to improve our yard, until I saw a few of our kiddos playing baseball in the backyard, a couple climbing our mulbery tree and one riding her bike in the side yard. I took a deep breath and scaled back my plans. Yes, I can plant a few flowers in our vegetable garden; but if I start landscaping, it may lead to a lot of frustration in the future. Now is not my season for beautifully manicured lawns. Most of my neighbors are retired, or have professional help for their lawns. This is my season to enjoy our little garden; but let the rest of the backyard be available for play. The more I ponder on this, the more I see other areas in life where I have mistaken my spring or summer for winter. May the Lord help me be mindful of the season that I am currently in and live it to the fullest. Until Next time,

Hello Friends! I wanted to share an update about what is going on here at Pecan Cottage. 1. I am now the mother of two - soon to be three- teenagers and three littles. Rayanna is somewhat sore about being lumped into the "littles" category; but it does have certain perks. I have not blogged in quite a while and dearly miss it. 2. I still homeschool all of our children; but I do have some help from a few resources online for the older children. I was a B student in math for most of my life and am finding it a challenge to keep up with Aaliyah in Algebra - so we have purchased some help in that department as well as spelling help from Memoria Press for a few of the children who seem more challenged in that area than the others. If anyone tells you that having your children read great books will make them great spellers- they lie and tell not the truth!!! I am surprised by some of the "spellings" that my marvelous children exhibit in their works. 3. I am a published author of a few works. I believe that I mentioned this in a previous post; but I have been working on a catechism for my children. Some friends saw what we were doing and requested a copy. What I used for us was not presentable for the public; but I have made it so. If you are interested in a little book that teaches your children the basics about what we believe about God and his Word; feel free to check it out. You can find a copy on Amazon by searching my name - Tinyla Beckles. It is entitled, The Good Apple - Primary Catechism- Level 1. 4. I also have been teaching piano once a week in the Fall and Spring. I am sure Miss Sunny (my Korean piano teacher from high school) NEVER thought that I would be teaching anyone piano! Thirty years later, here we are. I must say that it was a little bit of a struggle to find materials for my students that were specifically geared to children who weren't training to become concert pianist; but still kept their attention and offered skills that would help them play hymns and fun songs for their personal enjoyment. I didn't want to use what I was brought up on for many reasons; but began with it anyway. I found myself editing it and hunting around for alternatives often. I found many other resources. One that I will share with you if you are a mom or pianist in search of fun and simple (or not so simple) songs. There is a website called - Making Music Fun. You can find some hymns and some popular classical pieces and nursery songs and such for piano, as well as other instruments. You can request free copies at several diffent levels (1-4, I believe). Miss Zoe (age 5) recently played their level 1 version of William Tell at our recent recital. She has an incredible ear for music! Honestly, I am seaking the Lord for wisdom about her musical journey. She said she wanted to play in the recital and memorized and played page 1 of that song in about two weeks! Another resource is one that I have created. It begins with level one and continues to level four. Currently, level 1 is available online and features the VERY basics of music/piano and some nursery songs, Sunday School songs, and a few classical songs that have been modified for beginner hands. If you are interested in something like this - again, search my name on Amazon. This work is entitled - Piano Easy: Book One. 5. I don't like that this post is coming across as an advertisment for my work; but I do want to tell you, friend, what I have been up to lately. Home life and working on resources to help others in their homes is what I have been up to these days. It is a blessing to have a sixteen (almost 17) year old at home that will take good care of the others while I sneak away to the library to do a little work about once a week. 6. Lastly, I am working on a website that will host our family news, photos, and future things that I publish; but it is very slow in coming. For some reason, I am not catching on to things as quickly as I did for blogspot. I do have a friend with some experience; but she is a mom with a busy family as well, so I am holding out in asking for help for when I REALLY need help. (smile) I intent to share what each of us is reading as well as daily goings on at the cottage. I am looking forward to this and hope to be faithful in sharing weeklys as I enjoy blogging very much. It is sort of a way of looking at what God has done in our family with an outsiders eye, and sharing what I feel we are doing well- or maybe not so well and brainstorming how we coud improve. Thank you for your time today and as always, Wishing you God's best,