little bunny foo foo

8 am lesson this morning meant a philosophical and ethical discussion with my 7-yr-old on the ramifications of Little Bunny Foo Foo's mean-spirited behavior towards a certain number of field mice.  This is a common piece that my younger students study in the challenge book of the first non-preparatory level of the method series (Faber) I put my kids in... it's a great piece.  For one thing, they love it, which means they'll practice it, even though it's fairly challenging.  For another, there's hands-together playing, minor mode sections, hand position changes, modulations, and a POOF hexachord at the end where she turns him into a goon.  All the good stuff. 

(me): "Think of the fairy as a GOOD fairy. She's unhappy with Little Bunny Foo Foo because he's mean to the field mice.  Musically that's represented here in the minor sections (pointing).  And, you know, if the goon creeps you out, pretend that she turns him into a lizard instead..."

Her response? "Well yeah, I guess that makes sense. He has to be punished somehow..."

Hahaha my life... love. it. ♥