Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

     Wishing to encourage her young grandson's progress on the piano, a grandmother took him to a Paderewski concert.

     After they were seated,

grandma spotted an old friend in the audience

     and walked down the aisle to greet her.

     Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders

     of the concert  hall, the little boy rose and eventually

     explored his way through a door

     marked "NO ADMITTANCE."

     When the house lights dimmed and the concert

     was about to begin, the grandmother returned to

     her seat and discovered that the child was missing

     Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights

     focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.

     In horror, the grandmother saw the little

     boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out

     "Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star."

     At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear,

     "Don't quit."   "Keep playing."

     Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached

     down with his left hand and began filling

     in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached

     around to the other side of the child,

     and he added a running obbligato.

     Together, the old master and the young novice

     transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a
wonderfully creative experience.

     The audience was  so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played.

     Only the classic,

     "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

___________________________________________________________________