Excuse the Bragging Mom: Ethan competed in a piano and theory contest last weekend and won three ribbons and a trophy. This kid earned it — he practiced every day on his own, memorized his music on his own, studied his theory on his own — and did I mention that he kicked butt? He’s already planning on next year’s competition in which he plans to win an even bigger trophy.
In his honor, Ethan’s choice song of the week:
1) Deadbolt - The Day I Got My Spine Back
2) Reverend Horton Heat - Where In The Hell Did You Go With My Toothbrush?
3) Soviet - Commute
4) Nick Drake - Place to Be
5) Brainiac - To The Baby-Counter
6) Peaches - Rock the Shocker
7) Roots Manuva - Baptism
8) Mos Def - Love
9) Tanya Stevens - Cherry Brandy
10) Pizzicato Five - Playboy Playgirl

Ethan is like eight and he’s already not only playing piano but studying music theory? Wow.
Mexican Radio!
Ethan is like eight and he’s already not only playing piano but studying music theory? Wow. Yessir. He has some serious natural talent, but he also a a teacher that seems to recognize that and pushes him. E has no idea how good he really is, especially in his age group.
I’d edit my comment above but then it’ll get all slashy.
Are you sure we weren’t separated at birth? Rev Horton Heat, Pizzicato Five and Nick Drake all on the same list? That’s something that would happen on my playlist…
1. “The Unheard Music,” X
2. “Monstre Sacre,” Stereolab
3. “Barely (if at all),” The Verve Pipe
4. “Fireplace,” R.E.M.
5. “Hall of Heads,” They Might Be Giants
6. “Rain Down,” Outhouse
7. “Dearly Departed,” DeVotchKa
8. “Humming,” Portishead
9. “Run Devil Run,” Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins
10. “One Love,” Nas
And I know that I must have noticed it before, but the memory no longer lives in my brain: the beginning tuney-staticy kinda sound in “Mexican Radio” sounds like it totally got sampled by Cannibal Ox.
Ethan rocks, rolls, and kicks butt.
It’s been awhile since i’ve done one of these…
Artist — “Song”
Gravity Kills — “Love, Sex and Money [Reprise]”
PDQ Bach — “VI. Chorale and Finale” from Oedipus Tex
Rage Against the Machine — “Killing in the Name”
Jurassic 5 — “Hey”
Cast of Les Misérables — “A Little Fall of Rain”
Dizzy Gillespie — “Birk’s Works”
2Pac — “They Don’t Give a Fuck About Us”
Herbie Hancock — “Driftin’”
Nappy Roots — “Nappy Roots Day”
Louis Armstrong — “Hello, Dolly”
Bonus: System of a Down — “Sugar”
congrats to Ethan! Now you’ve reminded me that I’ve got to write my own bragging mama post: Ashanti was chosen to dance in a city-wide ballroom dance competition; she’s going to be dancing a tango with “the cutest boy in the class!”
Lucky kids.