While her kindergarten-aged daughter, Kate, and their bulldog, Spike, played in the fenced-in back yard, one of my piano moms (adult piano students) began a beautiful rendition of Fur Elise. Her phrasing well was excellent, her fingering was perfect, and she controlled the tempo  of the piece with panache and aplomb. Just as she reached the final page, though, Kate dashed in, breathless, eyes agape, and shouted, "Mom! You've gotta come see this! Spike just pooped an 'R'!"

My student, startled from her reverie, gave a quick glance toward her daughter. Then, as the child's words soaked in, she looked at me with both embarrassment and apology in her eyes.

"Can I come, too?" I asked Kate.

"Sure!" She waved an invitation, and out we all hurried to the back yard where, sure enough, there was a plump, picture-perfect calligraphy-style "R" in doggy-doo.

"Wow, that's amazing," I admitted.

"It really is," agreed the piano mom.

"Do you think Spike is like the spider in Charlotte's Web? Do you think he's leaving us a secret message?" Kate asked with breathless hope and wonderment.

"Maybe," offered her mother, straight-faced, not willing to quash this magic moment.

I leaned near my student's ear and whispered, "Yeah; he's spelling out Ridiculous Family Here."

She smirked and gave me a friendly elbow to the ribs.

Lesson: Artistry and talent can be found in unexpected places. Personal enrichment hinges on our willingness to keep an open mind and explore every opportunity that is presented.


NEXT TIME: What happens when you mix a student who never practices with her dog who hates my guts.