My colleague and dear friend, Diane Blanchard, who has a piano studio in Morehead City, NC, surprised me with the following message concerning my ‘Pteranodon’ in the ‘Dinosaur Collection’. It always makes me smile when I know my compositions are being enjoyed by students-in this case, a student just beginning his music journey! Diane is an amazing piano teacher who is nationally recognized and owns the following credentials: Nationally Certified Piano Teacher, Music Teachers National Association MTNA Southern Division Director-Elect President, St. Cecilia - East Carolina Music Club Past President, North Carolina Music Teachers Association Past President, Raleigh Piano Teachers Association 2012 MTNA Foundation Fellow Member of National Federation of Music Clubs 25 Years Teaching Experience Adjudicator of Local and State Contests and Competitions
Dear Lynne, I had a boy who is a senior in HS this year ask me if he could use piano as his 'senior project.' He was required to try something he'd never tried before and after 15 hours of study...produce a paper and presentation and also demonstrate what he'd learned. Well...he chose piano. I wasn't sure how to go from...don't know the keys on the piano to 'here's what I can play in 15 short hours'. But I took the challenge. While teaching him notes and rhythms...I taught him Pteranodon. I of course showed him the patterns. He played it for his class 2 and 1/2 months later and it was awesome. He got an A. Once again your piece fit the bill perfectly for what one of my students needed. Diane Blanchard