For the last three months, students have come to the studio for their piano lessons already making a bit of music as they walked through the door.  The instrument used to make this prelude of sorts was none other than that favorite choice of summer footwear, the flip flop.  Not since the dawn of the corduroy pants fad during the sixties has a piece of clothing been so musical. Their unique pitch can vary from pair to pair by the size of the actual flip flop, the size of the student wearing said flip flop, and the humidity in the air on any given day.  When it has been raining, the flip flop makes a louder, thicker sound, especially when wet.  On a dry day, they play a nice sharp staccato rhythm, crisp and to the point. When a student sits down at the piano, an unusual duet occurs as the flip flop-clad foot attempts to pedal while fingers above plunk out the assigned piece on the keyboard. Twentieth century composer John Cage could have written a whole essay on this curiosity of sounds.  Most students are oblivious to it, though.  They’ll never realize just how much talent it takes to accomplish such a duet of feet and hands!  I just sit back and enjoy it.

School started last week for my students.  The studio is quieter than usual.  The flip flops have been replaced by a more silent, respectable shoe.

It is time to move on.