After he finished his first piano lesson, Little Bear rushed over to visit Mr. Green Bear, who was in his garden as usual.
“Hi, Mr. Green Bear,” waved Little Bear. “I’m learning to play the piano. Mrs. Treble Beary said you can tell me how to grow my musical talent like you grow your garden. How can I do that?” asked Little Bear, curiously.
“Hi, Little Bear. I’m so glad that you’re taking piano lessons,” said Mr. Green Bear. “Learning to play the piano is a lot like working in a garden. Let me show you something. Look at these tiny new leaves just peeking up from the soil. I planted these Impatiens from seeds just last week, and they’re already coming up! In time, if I take good care of them, they’ll grow into a beautiful part of my garden.”
“I can see the new leaves. They’re really tiny, but what do they have to do with my piano lessons?” asked Little Bear.
“Well, Little Bear, your music learning will grow just like these tiny leaves,” explained Mr. Green Bear. “I need the right tools and environment to care for my garden. I plant the seeds where there is enough sunlight, give them plenty of water, and use my tools every day.”
“I see you use a shovel, a rake, a hoe, a wheel barrow, and a watering can for your garden,” said Little Bear. “But, I can’t play my piano with those tools, and watering would just get my music all wet!”
“Of course not, Little Bear. That would be silly. You’ll need other types of tools to play the piano.”
Mr. Green Bear continued to explain, “Each lesson, Mrs. Treble Beary will teach you something new, like how to read music, how to play rhythms, and how to sit at the piano and use your body correctly. Using these tools will help you develop your musical talent. Playing your piano is how you tend your Music Garden, Little Bear. And, doing your lessons at home each day is as important to your musical growth as water is to my garden,” smiled Mr. Green Bear.
“Right now your piano skills are like these tiny new leaves coming up. They’re small and fragile, but over time they will grow strong. Just as it takes time for my garden to grow, it will take time for your piano skills to grow.
Did you notice that Mrs. Treble Beary has a vase of flowers on her piano?”
“Yes,” said Little Bear. “They were roses, and smelled nice.”
“She keeps them on her piano to remind her students how much their musical skills have blossomed since they began taking lessons,” said Mr. Green Bear.
“But, there is so much to learn,” cried Little Bear. “I just had my first lesson and there is so much I still don’t know!”
“Don’t worry so much, young Littlebud,” said Mr. Green Bear, patting Little Bear on the shoulder. “You will learn something new every day. When I work in my garden, I don’t fret over how much it grows each day. I just take patient care of it, and know that at the end of the season I will have a harvest of beautiful flowers and lots of yummy fruits and vegetables to share. You have to be patient with your learning, Little Bear, and give yourself time to grow, just like I have to give these tiny flowers time to grow.”
“Here are some Impatiens seeds like the ones I planted last week,” said Mr. Green Bear, putting a small package of seeds in Little Bear’s Paw. “Take them home and plant them in your own yard. Remember, though, you’ll need to water and tend them every day right after practicing your piano lesson. It will take time for both these flowers and your musical garden to grow. But at the end of the year, Little Bear, the flowers will be all grown and beautiful, and you will be amazed at how much your piano skills have grown, too. Mrs. Green Bear and I are looking forward to hearing you play at your first piano recital next spring!”
Little Bear took the seeds home and planted them right after he finished practicing his piano lesson. Then he went inside and washed up for dinner.
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