There are some things I do kind of right

Max and Claire just started piano lessons. It's hard to convey how happy this makes me.

The lessons are a huge investment of both time and money. And in some ways it makes me feel like just another upper middle class mom over-scheduling her children.

And yet...I love that they're going to learn music. I love listening to them plinking the keys and singing along. In some ways, their taking piano makes me feel like I'm doing my job well. Like I am enriching their time on this earth. Which is important to me.

When I was growing up we had an upright piano brush-painted blue. I remember desperately wanting lessons and asking often. Had I actually gotten my wish, I'm sure I would've balked at the practice. But I never got the chance. Back then, I didn't realize how expensive piano lessons were and my parents, on a teacher's and nurse's salary probably weren't in a position to shell out the bucks necessary. I totally understand and don't begrudge them. When I was sixth grade, they rented me a trumpet and I sucked at it and didn't practice and generally decided I wasn't put on this planet to make music. Later, I picked up the guitar and worked at it for about six months before setting it aside for more fun things, like drinking with my friends.

My lack of musicality was disappointing to me. Especially because my dad, my sweet, sweet dad had a crazy awesome musical streak. He taught himself to play piano, guitar, and banjo. I also remember bongo drums, recorders and harmonicas around the house. He loved music and was pretty good, too.

He used to have a reel-to-reel tape recorder and these massive microphones on stands, into which, every Christmas eve, my sister and I would squeal, excited by Santa's imminent arrival, and sing carols and talk about school.

The reels never completely erased, so that if you taped over something, which we often did, you could still sort of hear whatever had originally been recorded. In the background of many of our Christmas Eve tapes, which still exist but which I can barely stand to listen to, you can faintly hear the hippy singing of my dad, mom, and several of my dad's high school students.

The reels have been transferred to cassettes. But the remnants of early 70s harmonizations remain behind my sister's and my youthful musings.

I don't know if Max and Claire will take to the piano. I don't know if they'll show any sort of musical inclination or if nagging them to practice will just become too much and we'll all collectively sigh and say, "Screw it."

But I want to try. I want to see what, when we give them the opportunity, comes of it.

Comments

[Bobbi]

I think it's an amazing gift to give kids two things music and language. I wish I had kept up with my music but at least I have fond memories of clarinet lessons!

[Jennifer Jo]

It's hard work and there are (usually, from what I understand) lots of battles involved, but the results can be fairly stunning.

Also, have you read Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother? I highly recommend it.

[Bev]

I too longed for piano lessons as a child and was so jealous of my friends who were learning to play. As a single parent for most of their young years, regrettably I could not afford music lessons for my kids.

Rich and I paid for guitar and drum lessons for our grandsons but their parents, who in other ways are so great and make sure that they are exposed to various sports, decided that it conflicted with other things. By the time our granddaughter was old enough, there was no interest on their part.

All that personal crap just to say that your kids are so lucky to have this great opportunity. Skills like that and exposure to other facets of life become integral parts of who we are in adulthood.

[Averil Dean]

That unintentional medley on the reel-to-reel is fantastic. My dad was not musical, but he made many recordings of my sister and I singing and being goofy. I'm so glad we have those tapes. Our voices sound so small.

[Karen (formerly kcinnova)]

I love that your dad plays banjo!
Two out of my three older boys have talent with musical instruments. The other? Well, I'm glad to say he can sing with gusto and lucked out with a great choir experience at church. And the youngest boy is the only one who has gotten piano lessons (which stopped when we moved, I feel guilty now). Yes, they are expensive, esp. when you live in Seattle. But the opportunity you are giving your kids is priceless!