Hi there,

Over the past few weekends, I spent long days building a catio (an outdoor enclosure) for my kitties, Marie and Zorro.

We’re about to start serious construction inside the house — demolition, power tools, strangers in big dirty boots, the works — and I needed a quiet, safe space for them to retreat to.

Cats hear up to 80,000 hertz (we only reach 20,000), so imagine what that kind of noise feels like to them. I knew it would be unbearable. And when they're stressed, fights break out and I get stressed too.

You’ll see in the video — this wasn’t a one weekend DIY. This was a multi person multi weekend extravaganza.

Before settling on a catio, I explored other options. I spent a couple of weeks in conversation with a company that makes cat-proof fencing. But they explained that if there’s a tree within nine feet of the fence, a cat could leap over it. In my yard, that would’ve meant cutting down nearly everything green. Not going to happen.

I also considered letting them roam freely. It would have been easier, less expensive, and I’m sure Marie and Zorro would have preferred it. But I’ve lost two young cats that way — both under two years old. With construction already weighing on me, I knew I couldn’t cope with that kind of loss again.

So I chose the catio route.

I made a scale drawing of the yard, evaluated five different kits, and planned the best layout.

But I made one crucial mistake: I didn’t measure the tree’s height. I had the catio’s dimensions memorized from the Amazon listing — I just didn’t get out the tape measure and double check. And once we started building, it became obvious: the tree was too tall.

Without help, I’d have had to cut it down or prune so severely it might not have survived.

Thankfully, my longtime student Vicky and her husband Tom, who’s an engineer, stepped in. They designed a brilliant roof extension and a walkway to connect the old and new catio — saving the tree and the whole project.

Without Tom’s precision, patience, and problem-solving mindset, it simply wouldn’t have worked.

During the build, I was impatient with Tom's insistence on leveling every wall, squaring every joint, planning every step in detail.
Looking at it now, I see: that kind of care was essential. Everything aligns because the foundation is solid.

And it reminded me: even with good preparation, some projects — like music — need more than effort. They need structure. They need a second set of eyes. They need expertise.

While I can improvise a beautiful meal without a recipe, it’s only because I’ve cooked for decades and read shelves full of cookbooks.

Without that depth of experience, winging it usually means takeout.

That’s why I created The Well-Tempered Pianist the way I did.
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Inside, everything is sequenced intentionally — starting with essential technical foundations and building upward toward expressive, artistic performance.
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It’s a clear, focused path designed to move you forward — without wasted time or scattered effort.

If you’ve been thinking about joining, enrollment reopens May 5–8.

And also — on Monday, May 5th at 4pm Pacific Daylight Time, I’ll be live-streaming Chopin Practicing Secrets 2.0

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This time, we’ll explore Chopin’s ideas on involving the whole arm in your playing — to bring out more beauty, more ease, and more freedom in your sound.

If you’ve ever struggled with awkward passages, tension, or feeling stuck, this training will open new doors.

So keep an eye on your inbox — and don’t miss the video.

Happy Practicing,
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Rebecca

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Frustrated with slow progress? It’s not your fault. You were probably never taught how to practice correctly. But now you can learn with Pocket Piano Pro. Just send me a quick video, and I’ll send you a personalized video answer in 48 hours or less filled with targeted strategies to help you improve fast. Say goodbye to being stuck and hello to rapid piano growth.

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Get comfortable to play better Mini-course and 15-page PDF will help reduce tension and increased ease and comfort. Learn the best bench height, sitting distance, foot and leg alignment, and how to position your arms and elbows. GET IT NOW

Contact info@RebeccaBogartPiano.com

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