In my four decades of teaching piano, I never had a student recital quite like this one. Reams of Irina Gorin’s pupils ascend the stage in Indiana at what looks like a piano store with a recital hall. (The backdrop is the Meridian Music Company’s Munger Hall) There’s a Steinway for the children to play on, and a second piano that I’m assuming is the same judging by its timbre.

A 4-year old boy leads the troupe, playing a Russian folk melody that comes straight from a Tschaikovsky Symphony. The child has been studying piano for just 4 months and already he’s at ONE with the instrument. His relaxed arms, supple wrists flow in and out of phrases, communicating a primordial connection to the music. He’s well on his way.

Another child performs a concerto movement by Peskanov as the teacher plays the tutti, orchestra part at the second…