On a dark, rainy, cold afternoon last year, as I was feeling so empty and forlorn coming home from a Bereavement Group meeting, I passed Giacoletti Music in Oceanside.  I semi-reluctantly made a U-Turn and came up to the door, which was locked as it was not yet time to open. Just then, Melinda was unlocking the door and welcomed me in.  I blurted out a vague reference to being interested in resuming piano lessons saying that I had been away from the piano for many years.  She found me a book of melodies with chords and asked me to play.  I did.  She then listened to me — really listened to me with a caring, compassionate heart and said, “I believe I can help you…”   I really listened to her as many “music quotes” came into my heart — such as, “Music is good for the soul”  and remembered particularly a quote from Beethoven, “Music can change the world”.   Without a doubt, taking piano lessons under Melinda’s heartfelt guidance, patience, enthusiasm, expertise, wisdom and encouragement has really helped me change my life (thereby my world).   There are another couple of quotes from John Wooden, the famous and very inspirational basketball coach — “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do”  and “It’s the little details that are vital.   Little things make big things happen”  that remind me of why Melinda’s approach to teaching what I really want to learn makes her an especially gifted motivator and why I am so grateful to be a part of the Giacoletti Music “family” now.