I enjoy music so much and I get so much pleasure from singing (even though I'm lousy at it and would never sing in public) that I think playing an instrument would be amazing.
Right now I can pick out a simple tune on a recorder which is pretty standard for anyone of my generation. We all learned it in school, I think because it was a cheap instrument and very portable. When I was about 5, my parents signed me up for piano lessons but I found them "boring". My parents instantly pulled me out of them. Looking back now that I'm a parent myself, I suspect that the real reason they were okay with my quitting was that the lessons were too expensive. I'm sure when the teacher suggested we get a real piano so I could practice at home, that was the end of it. Remember that this was the time before cheap portable electronic keyboards.
I've always wanted to play the cello. It's an instrument that sounds like it needs a hug. And the way you play it looks like you're doing just that. When I watched Fame on tv, I always wanted to be Lori Singer. Realistically, since the cello takes years of dedication, time and the nimble fingers of youth, that's out of reach forever. I'll have to be content to live through my kids.
I'm so impressed with our public school system's music programme. In middle school, they are asked to choose an instrument and are taught to read music and play in a group. It's usually lovely. I say usually because if you've ever heard a middle school Junior Band Christmas show (which is only 3 mere months of just learning which end to pluck, bang on or blow into) , it's the bizarre feel-combo of being slowly and painfully water boarded, plus the most intense pride you've ever felt.
Audrey plays the flute and Elliott plays both the saxophone and the bagpipes. They play their instruments quite well. I'm so amazed that they are able to do this thing that I've always wanted to do myself. I often ask where they get their musicality from. Can you really inherit physical ability from the mere desire to try something? Obviously... because they have.
kxx
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
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2 comments:
Grab a ukulele...dare you.
Or a guitar. Even I can play 4 chords on a guitar and the Ramones only used three.
Water boarded. I so agree. Reminds me of Emma's strings concert in 4th grade, a mere 10 once-a-week lessons after picking up her (huggable) cello. The strings teacher was very upbeat and honest that the kids knew 3 notes. And then they played 3 or 4 songs using just those 3 notes. Songs that included Ode to Joy. It was the coolest thing, last spring, when the entire orchestra program of this school had their end of year concert. Here they start in 5th grade, and had a concert starting with the 5th and 6th graders, then the junior high kids took the stage, and finally the high school kids. Then, when the high school orchestra was still on stage, the junior high and elementary kids stood in the aisles or sat at the front of the auditorium and they all played Ode to Joy together. Surround sound. The older kids were playing a richer piece than the younger kids, but they were all playing together. It was lovely. And then we all went to the gym and had pie . . .
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