A sad moment at Guitar Center today.

Oh yes, don't kill her joy and love of music. Let her have fun with it. She'll eventually learn the grown-up notes.

Through the hundreds and thousands of years music was a form of communication and expression. It was NOT a requirement for the person participating to be perfect. Ava's father reminds me of my parents at times. They would want me to be perfect in certain activities, and the more that they lectured me on being "PERFECT" the more I grew to hate the activity. I reached the point that I wouldn't participate in that activity for anything. In fact that's how I nearly lost one of my front teeth. My father wanted me to learn how to water ski, I couldn't see the purpose of racing around on the water, being towed by a boat at a high rate of speed, on one or two boards strapped to one's feet. The final straw was when my father had me strap the skis to my feet, hold on to the rope, and he hit the throttle so the boat took off at a huge amount of speed, a larger amount than anyone normally would have used for anything. He jerked me into the air and I landed head first into the water. One of the skis came off and hit me in the mouth. There were five men that came swimming to "rescue" me (my father yelled at them to go back that the 'fat idiot' wasn't hurt) fortunately they didn't listen and helped me back to shore. Part of my front tooth had been knocked out and I was bleeding from a cut that the ski had made inside my mouth. When my father came back to shore and saw the dental damage he was heard to say "That's okay, she's too fat anyway, this will cause her to loose a LOT of weight that she needs to lose. She's acting like she's really hurt badly." The other four men had to hold the fifth guy back because he wanted to deck my father. Talk to the father and try to get it across to him that the girl is only 7 years old and only learning. When you're only learning you aren't going to be perfect and are very likely, under pressure like she is experiencing, to hate music and everything involved with it. Let the sweetheart learn at her own speed!!! Shoot, there is a lot that she is still learning anyhow. Music, above all, should be fun and something that she loves rather than a chore and something to stress over and hate.

I agree, music should be fun for her and not something to stress over!!

I think you are on the right track of teaching her.

I am sorry she was not as happy as she usually is. May be she had an argument with her Dad.

Perhaps you can make her father see the point of Ava needing to enjoy her music.

Things like "theory" are more appetizing when they slip in sideways, indirectly. She needs the joy.

Her dad needs to butt out. Good for you for going back to what should be done.

It should be fun. She will get the rest over time

At one time back in Latvia my hubby was interested to learn piano notes. I chose simple songs he knew and wrote out the notes on note paper and then he played by one finger and recognized the song then then I pointed out the notes to him and soon he realized that learning notes on the piano was like learning to read by alphabet,

I hope she builds confidence with your gentle patience with her.

Yeah music should fun not a chore.

A 7-year-old shouldn't have to experience stress. I'm glad you're going to use letters for her again. Have a good week.