April 2022 Student of the Month – Joshua Thomas

This month we’re so excited to feature CCM piano student, Joshua Thomas, as our April 2022 Student of the Month! Joshua has been taking piano lessons for around 10 months at CCM’s Sunnyvale location with Teacher Brennan. As of now, he is the only student of teacher Brennan’s to have completed the 100-day practice challenge!

Read below to see Joshua’s advice for CCM students just starting on their musical journey, and don’t forget to check out the parent spotlight as well.

Q: What is your name?

A: Joshua Thomas

Q: How old are you?

A: 6 years old.

Q: Who is your teacher?

A: Teacher Brennan.

Q: What advice would you give to a piano student just starting out at CCM?

A: Just to keep trying and keep practicing, even when it’s hard. It gets easier.

Q: What piece are you looking forward to learning someday?

A: Pieces from the movie La La land

Q: What is your favorite thing about playing piano?

A: I like learning new songs and then getting good at them so it becomes really fun to play and sing.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: XLB dumplings and burgers

Q: Do you have a pet?

A: No, but I really want a dog. My parents said they might let me get a goldfish this year at least.

Q: Do you play any sports or do any other activities outside of music lessons?

A: Swimming, soccer, basketball, snowboarding, and playing Pokémon and chess.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: I want to be a chef when I grow up.

Q: What is your most memorable experience at CCM?

A: Getting the 100-day practice trophy. I’m working towards getting the 1-year practice trophy.

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Parent Spotlight – Marjorie Chen

Q: Regarding piano, what are you most proud of your child accomplishing?

A: I’m most proud of Joshua sticking with learning piano, even when it was frustrating in the beginning. He was able to get over the initial hump, started practicing everyday, and now really enjoys playing piano. I love that he enjoys playing piano, and it’s not a chore to get him to practice. It’s also really rewarding to see how happy he gets whenever he masters a new piece. This has helped him build resiliency.

Q: What advice would you give to a new parent starting in the program?

A: Build the habit of practicing everyday, even if it’s just a few minutes on busy days. We saw a huge improvement when Joshua started playing a little everyday as part of his daily routine, versus having longer but less frequent practice sessions. CCM’s daily practice challenge with the milestone awards really motivated my son.

Q: Why did you decide to give your child a musical upbringing?

A: I grew up playing piano and the flute, and I love music. I really valued having a musical background, especially when I got older. I wanted to pass this on to my son, and it’s been great to see his love of music grow!