Two decades ago Mr Cliff Lenz was a familiar local television personality with a musical variety show. Long retired, he teaches piano to many children, including mine. Countless hours I have sat beside our own piano listening to their rhythmic scales and those familiar melodies. Naturally, their musical abilities have grown appreciably with each passing year. But the real value of piano practice is more than learning a clever skill. Those sessions, even when involuntary and christened with tears, provide an elemental kind of moment together for parent and child. The distractions of the day are put aside, and the fundamental role of parent as mentor can be realized. It is time that I hope they will reflect on fondly years hence when seated 4th row center for a Mozart symphony or when simply sounding out a tune at home alone.