Learning to play without the pencil

There are many things in learning the music that I have not concidered to be important. At first we rehearsed at home so that I counted alound 1-2-3-4 and followed the notes with the pencil. That was not wise. I didn't event think about it, but soon I realized that E does not really follow the notes but the pencil. So then we had to learn to practice without pointing the notes. I'm happy I realized my bad on this stage and not later. That made me think that I as a parent can harm E's hobby. I have heard about parents who push their children too much and kill the joy. I have really been thinking that I will not be too pushy, but apparently I could do some harm and just ignore it. Well, this was just a little thing but it made me think.

When the little player is 6 years old the parents have to be quite active. I just can't let her be on her own. She does not know what the homework means and what means to work hard to achieve something. I had thought I'd suggest playing an instrument for her next spring so she could start next autumn, so at the same time she goes to school. Then the idea of homework and making effort would be easier to understand. But here we are, learning these things with the viola. It really demands time and input from us parents too. We have to check if she holds the bow right and remind her to concentrate. And force her to play also those homeworks she doesn't like. I really like to play with her too. Music could become the language that everybody in our family speaks, together.

E speaks a lot that she would like to play in the orchestra. I've been told she get's in to that next autumn. So now playing duets gives her a bit idea about polyphony. She get's to play pieces with two voices. In the lessons the teacher plays the violin and at home I play the piano and she has to play along the other voice. I think she also likes to hear herself being part of something that sounds like real music. She can only play 4 tones, the tones of the strings, but with somebody else she can play many things. Maybe I could write a version of Taivas varjele for two voices...  The problem is our piano, wich is so out of tune. It sounds terrible and surely doesn't do any good for her ears.