Saturday, March 24, 2007

Budding musician




Here's my budding musician. Actually she says she hates the saxaphone and wants to quit. I'm making her stick it out for the rest of the school year!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hehehe, but I wouldn't quit. I wanted to quit violin when I started, but I kept playing and now I love it! It was the constant practicing that bothered me(and sometimes still does!).But don't listen to me.....anyway....um.....bye.

Priscilla said...

yeah...I know. Do I let her quit or not?

Gudl said...

She could still start a different instrument! I know they allow beginners in 'higher' classes, too!
I think it is great that the kids can learn an instrument for free in the school.
And they are so happy when they can be part in the orchestra or band and have a good concert.
I think it is good to say she has to finish the school year. Then I would 'talk'....(and hope she would agree to go on)
In any case, she looks great (and your wall color is nice, too)

Priscilla said...

Thanks! It's our addition. We finally have the drywall up and it is painted. We just need the trim and flooring now.

Tracy said...

I agree with Gudl. But what do I know? I took piano lessons for three years for free. Didn't have the opportunity after that.

Jake said...

Michael played the sax for two years and wanted to quit after that. We encouraged him to keep it up, but he was very insistent that he wanted to drop it, so we finally gave in. He hated practicing and I hated trying to get him to on a daily basis. Now he says he wishes he stuck with it. What's a parent to do?

Rachel said...

Oops, that was really me, not Jake.

Priscilla said...

on the other hand...we let Allen quit and he says that he does not regret it to this day. Who knows?

Rachel said...

Yeah, it's so hard to know what to do.

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

Maybe she will learn to enjoy it after all. I love musical instruments and would love to learn to play about every one ever made

Anonymous said...

Yow! That must be painful! :)

Gina said...

This is an interesting conversation. This comment may turn into a book--Hope you don't mind. :)

As a music teacher, I find that the kids are so excited to begin the instruments--the excitement carries them through the first few months of playing. Then some of them truly realize that learning an instrument is something that takes work--it's not all fun and games like they thought it would be (we try to warn them ahead of time, but I'm not sure that the message gets across). This seems to be the time of year when some kids start saying that they want to quit.

I would encourage you to definitely keep her playing at least through the end of the school year. Then she will be able to truly say that she tried it, played in the concert, and then decided that she didn't want to do it anymore. Personally, I think learning to play an instrument is one of the best ways we can learn about commitment and discipline.

Chances are you've already talked with her about why she wants to quit. I've found that there are a whole smattering of reasons that can include everything from truly not enjoying playing the instrument to being bored because the music is too easy to peer pressure from friends. And then there is the "I don't know why I want to quit" child. I spoke with one today. He truly didn't know why he wanted to quit--he even told me that he enjoys playing the cello!

Anyways, I pray that something I've written is helpful. Have you talked with her music teacher?

God bless and have a good night!

(About practicing, I remember my mother having no nag me to practice each day all through my middle school years. It wasn't until high school that I started practicing on my own. I think it is normal for many children to have to be told & encouraged to practiced. It is in many ways just like doing homework each night.)

Gina said...

PS- My mom used to make me practice down in the cold basement when I was in 4th grade!