Seventeen-year-old Claire Alalay likes herself best when she plays her father's old piano, a welcome escape from the sadness of missing him -- and from her traditional Filipino mother's prayer groups. After placing third in a local competition, and with hopes of earning a college scholarship, Claire auditions for Paul Avon, a prominent piano teacher, who agrees to take Claire as a pupil. Soon Claire loses herself in Paul's world and his way of digging...

"Explore the workings of a grand piano through the eyes of a young musician preparing for recital. The cumulative structure should satisfy curious readers interested in how pianos function, from the pedal pressed to the ground to the keys that hoist the hammers. It's sure to be a musical treat for students, teachers, and music enthusiasts alike"--

"It's the day of Momo's very first piano recital, and she is terribly nervous. Today is the day of a little mouseling's very first performance, too, and she's just as nervous as Momo. The mouseling invites Mom to watch her performance. Momo follows the mouseling through a small door backstage, where she's met with an amazing sight: an elaborate miniature theatre, and an audience of finely dressed mice! When the Grand Mouse-ter takes the stage, a hush...