Prokofiev met his first teacher, Glière, in 1902, when he was 11 years old. This teacher immediately captivated the young Prokofiev, who possessed a strong personality, and taught him the fundamentals of harmony, form, and orchestration. Using the knowledge thus acquired, Prokofiev eventually developed the habit of regularly composing small pieces, which he called "Little Songs." This practice continued for nearly six years, resulting in over 60 pieces. This habit, maintained from his boyhood into his youth, may have served as a musical laboratory for the future master, and at times, even as a kind of diary. It seems that the future master's approach of seeking novelty within traditional formats, and his expressive language, which boldly deviates from established sonorities, were already firmly budding during this period.