Six months ago, on the downhill side of my enthusiasm curve for playing piano, I found a more working class version of my mother who is a qualified AMEB music teacher, living in Reservoir. It’s such an earthy, human thing to once a week plonk yourself on a stranger’s vinyl couch, staring at genuine 70’s decor (vases of peacock feathers, a worn tan beanbag and rustic brown and orange tinged landscape paintings), daggy DVD’s amd video’s of broadway musicals, copies of National Geographics and “Choose-your-own-Adventure” books from the early 80’s, whilst a gas heater roars away. I love it. Even down to the bottles of HP sauce and old tea-towels in the 60’s kitchen, to the 80’s flip-clocks. It is a very intimate experience that is well worth the $27 bucks a week. Early on (apart from getting me to start back at the basics as a Grade 1) she encouraged me to have a think about my goals – what did I want to do? I could barely muster up the enthusiam to practise after a year of daily playing at that point, when I had the epiphany that maybe now was the time to confront my greatest fear – an exam. The very thing that was my only proviso for agreeing to beginning lessons as a 12 year old. So, I signed up for Grade 1 Theory. And last week after lots of practise exams, I sat the test at Collingwood Town Hall, amidst 150 other 10 year olds. It was a ridiculous scenario, but I think I did well. How well I won’t know for 8 long weeks, but I think this exam means more to me that I would have thought possible. I’ve never got 100% in my life, and I’m certain I’ve gone awfully close this time. Meanwhile, the new challenge is another exam in November, where I have to actually play something. 4 pieces from a book, and to clap and sing along to several others. The whole point is to make sure that someone who is tone (or rhythmically) deaf can’t possibly slip through the net. It’s going to be a lot harder, but I am suddenly really excited about it. I suppose I’ll have to practise now, as I’d gotten away with test exams in the tram until now.