Musings Inspired by a Rented Cello
This evening I took my daughter to the music store and turned over $135 or so for the first three months of cello rental (plus insurance against damage and loss), a pin stand, and a music stand. My daughter is now happily and noisily sawing away on her own quarter-size cello.
I didn't expect this to feel as significant as it does, but this evening marked a significant parental initiation for me. I feel like I did something important for my daughter, perhaps the most unselfish thing I have ever done for her.
It's hard to explain. . . I'm fostering something that is totally hers. I never would have selected cello. I'm a bit surprised she's pursuing music at all, although both her father's family and my own have had strong backgrounds in music. But we don't have any formal music in this household. No one plays an instrument. There's not much singing. I play the iPod in the car, and she has her favorite songs, and sometimes we sing along together, but to me it's a big step from "listening to records" to playing an instrument.
But driving back from the store, she and I started talking about the possibility that one day I'll bring my clarinet out of the back of the storage room and maybe we can play duets together.
And wouldn't that be amazing and fun?
I like the idea that my daughter, by doing something that is arising totally out of her own heart, not only will be having a wonderful time herself, but may re-involve me in something I used to love and take great pleasure in. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could actually share that?
I didn't expect this to feel as significant as it does, but this evening marked a significant parental initiation for me. I feel like I did something important for my daughter, perhaps the most unselfish thing I have ever done for her.
It's hard to explain. . . I'm fostering something that is totally hers. I never would have selected cello. I'm a bit surprised she's pursuing music at all, although both her father's family and my own have had strong backgrounds in music. But we don't have any formal music in this household. No one plays an instrument. There's not much singing. I play the iPod in the car, and she has her favorite songs, and sometimes we sing along together, but to me it's a big step from "listening to records" to playing an instrument.
But driving back from the store, she and I started talking about the possibility that one day I'll bring my clarinet out of the back of the storage room and maybe we can play duets together.
And wouldn't that be amazing and fun?
I like the idea that my daughter, by doing something that is arising totally out of her own heart, not only will be having a wonderful time herself, but may re-involve me in something I used to love and take great pleasure in. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could actually share that?