Often times I listen to music while I’m working. Usually it’s Pandora, French Cafe Radio (I created that station) or Hearts of Space www.hos.com. Today though was very different.

When I arrived for my first appointment this morning, she wasn’t at home, I have access and began hand stripping her darling Norwich Terrier. No one was home so the house was quiet and very relaxed. After about an hour, my client came home from errands and about 15 minutes later said that she was going to practice her piano and that hopefully, she wouldn’t bother me. Well, I have known her for years and had no idea that she even played the piano. The living room isn’t far from the laundry room where I was grooming so I could hear her practice. I have seen the grand piano but, as one so often finds a piano in a home, no one plays. Quite the contrary in this house.

She started with scales and after about 10 minutes of that she began to play a piece that was so lovely. She is a terrific piano player and I felt as if I was in a concert hall. I could hear the concentration through her fingers. Clearly, she has been playing for years, she is quite accomplished.

It was so interesting to see the reaction of the dog when she started to play. Initially, I wasn’t paying attention but, her dog stopped panting and completely relaxed in my hands. I had been stripping her for about 2 hours when the music started so she was getting a little tired. It was amazing to see how her dog’s stress level reduced. Initially, I wasn’t paying attention to it but, because the practice went on for 30 minutes, I clearly noticed after 10 minutes that she was no longer panting. She was alert and it seemed as she, too, was reaching to here every note! It was as if she was in a little trance. Both of us were. My client was deeply engrossed in her practice, you could hear the concentration.

I felt quite privileged that she played while I was present in her home.