We arrive in class and theorize if she will arrive on time and what new outfit she will be sporting. Perchance a new necklace.

*Click click click*

She is near!

She turns the corner and walks in the door. There is Solomia looking ridiculously put together, as per usual.

She dumps her Coach bag and massive stack of books and handouts on the table. Then she gives the table and piano a big yank to rearrange the room.

“Ok. I slashed my finger with an expensive restaurant quality knife that I got for Christmas, one must be careful with those! Then, when I was on a recruiting tour and performing solo Bach, my finger reopened and blood ran down my arm and violin, but I kept playing. The students were horrified!

“Anyways, we have one more presentation today on the Bieber sonatas.”

Sadie pulls her slides up on the computer and begins to present.

Solomia is unimpressed by the level of information on the composer’s personal life and informs the class of some spicy historical anecdotes.

*Ring ring ring* — -her phone interrupts.

She declines the call, “Shouldn’t my family know I am teaching a class?”

“It’s the last chord you have to learn!” She promises as she aggressively hands out packets of textbook photo copies and random excerpts of pieces.

“So, the diminished 7 chord …”

She places her glasses on her face and opens up the packet to the middle and starts playing piano.

She scowls as she fumbles through some of the chords.

She reminds us, “Never use the two chord in root position! It sounds very bad.”

*Ring ring ring*

“It’s the Archbishop of France, I must take this.”

“It’s time for a competition! Life is a competition,” she announced, and instructed us to get in our groups.

We walk over to the chalk board,  but there is no chalk. We use a pea size piece. She assigns us each a different chord to spell.

Claire is getting stressed at the board, because she doesn’t know if she should put the F# in the tenor or the bass.

Solomia says, “Claire, that is Kindergarten level.”

Claire starts to cry, so Solomia hands her a container of Ukrainian chocolate.

“Ok, that’s all for today. For homework …” She pauses to flip through the workbook.

“Do exercise 12.A, 12.F and 12.Y for Thursday.”

With reporting by Leah Hochstetler, Greta Miller, Sadie Sherman, Harper Shue and Claire Troyer.