My waltzes were better.

As has always been the case with me, I was already composing the music directly on paper without working it out on the piano.

The waltzes were too difficult for my hands, so a friend of the family, a sister of the singer Geraldy, was kind enough to play them for me.
I have looked over these little compositions lately.

They are insignificant, but it is impossible to find a technical error in them.
Such precision was remarkable for a child who had no idea of the science of harmony.

About that time some one had the notion that I should hear an orchestra.