Musicians in the House

[Quettalee]

Both of the girls just got guitars for their birthdays.

Now the oldest one has a bad habit. If she can't pick something up & automatically be good at it, that's usually as far as it goes. Not really one for practicing or really working at anything too terribly hard. First she wanted to be a professional basketball player. Tall, long arms & legs--awkward to the point of dribbling to the wrong end & shooting at the opponent's goal. One season of basketball....one complete season because we made her stick it out until the end.

Next year; Color Guard. You know--the kids who twirl the flags & play with the banners & dance with balls & such--all very artsy & good for one's flexibility...very boring for the spectator. I'm sorry. It was. Again, daughter #1 not the most graceful member of the team & usually one of the prop-movers; double boring for the moms.

To make a long story short, (ha) we had a "huge & potentially devastating" issue this year with daughter #1 thinking she needed to start dating as a 14-year-old. (absolutely no way, no how) She lied to us & tried to sneak around & actually "had" a little boy at school who was her "boyfriend" for the entire year--although she is not allowed to go anywhere without one of us there or even talk to boys on the phone yet. He plays in a band & of course wrote her "love" songs all year long....this is going in the direction of a totally new thread in another category, so let me get back on track...

Regardless of her motivation, she has taken that guitar in one week & astounded both her moms! She was showing us what she has learned last night & we were both sitting on the couch with our mouths hanging open. She looked liked she had been playing for years--totally comfortable--and very impressive for never having had one of her own. I wanted to wait until we saw if they were actually interested in playing before putting out the money for lessons, so everything she has learned has been totally on her own; no, I don't even want to think about what she learned from "Cody".

Daughter #2 came out & wanted to watch tv. We asked her if she had practiced her guitar & she said "yes". A lie. Now this is the daughter that figures out problems three times as fast as her sister. Mary told her to go get it & let us hear. The lie manifested itself in the look on her face. She started making excuses. "I'm not as good as....", "it's hard to practice in the same area as...", & so on....Clearly when she started trying to show us what she had learned, it was obvious she had not taken it out at all yesterday.

Mary & I both had it completely backwards. #2 just thinks it's "cool" to have a guitar & look the part (she has asked six times already for a "wicked" new strap--not lessons or practice sheets from the computer--just a "wicked" strap & some cool picks)

Just when you think you have them completely figured out...

Anyway, I am off to call Mom's Music to check on lessons for our next banger.

Anyone else have musicians in the house? Gams, I know you do.
I'de love to hear some stories from everyone.

[gams]

I just noticed this thread. How did I miss it?

It's nice daughter number one found her niche; sometimes it just takes a while. Good luck to her.

LX and her violin - it's not quite there yet. She rarely practices at home, but at least we're not paying for lessons, though we are still making monthly payments to rent the darned thing. Thankfully she did not choose the French horn or cello; they were three times as expensive and for something she rarely picks up, would be harder for me to take. She loves it though. And next year I won't even have to get her out of the house early for zero hour practice; orchestra will be a regular class during her day.

BP - she is my singer. Stands on a step stool in a feather boa, with a jump rope as a microphone and belts out Evanescence and Collective Soul tunes. Not quite as hard on the ears as a screeching violin either.

[quettalee]

for u gams!!

[freebird1]

My daughter never was much good at anything musical we went through the whole drums, violin,and marching band thing. Nothing. Then one day she cooked something for me and that was it she found her knack. She is now a certified chef and plans on opening her own business.
My son is great at music. Singing, guitars, drums.
But wants to be a Archaeologist instead. Go figure.
Sorry for rambling on so.

Gams, Q, I'd love to hear some music from both of your musicians.

[gams]

Sometimes I put myself through torture willingly and knowingly.

It was BP's birthday last week. She loves music. Last year for her birthday, I bought her a little ukulele - a real instrument built to last, and not a toy. She strums while listening to cds of all kinds - everything from Disney music to Nickelback and Evanescence. This year, tired of washing pots, pans and wooden spoons that she drags out of the cupboard and uses as a drums, I got her a drum "set". Made by the same company as the ukulele, called "First Musicians" or something like that, again, they are not toys. A real marching band drum, tambourine, maracas, and harmonica. OMG! To watch her play the harmonica - what a riot. Looks like she ought to be up on stage in New Orleans, or Chicago in some blues band. She doesn't have the sound - but definitely the look. Where she gets these moves, I don't know. Quite the ham.

And the "real" drum does sound much better than my two-quart stainless steel.

[Quettalee]

Oh man! I have always wanted to play drums. I am jealous.

Inez made me go with French horn (borrr-ing) because someone told her it was such a beautiful instrument and I picked up trumpet on my own--mainly because I hated playing the French horn during marching season. Concert season wasn't so bad, especially at Christmastime, because I usually had lots of solos. But the French horn and a football field were not my thing. Actually it came down to making a choice during my senior year because I couldn't play ball and stay in band. Much to Mom's dismay, I chose the athletics. After all, my chances of getting a scholarship playing ball were a lot better than getting one in band. Luckily I got the ride; I would've never heard the end of it from Inez.

You may have another Neil Peart or John Bonham on your hands, Gams! Dang! I can't even name one great female drummer.

[gams]

Last night was LX's Spring Concert; I had my trepidations about sitting through it, wondering how bad a sixth grade orchestra could sound. It wasn't bad...actually quite nice, and if the seventh and eighth grade orchestra is any indication of what my daughter's class will sound like next year, notions of screaming, dying cats in my living room which are really the sounds of a screeching violin will be dispelled from my memory...hopefully.

The highschool orchestra sounded wonderful.

I've got a few years to wait.

[Quettalee]

Such a martyr...I mean, mom.

[maeve]

Drummers, eh?
Athena Kottack
Connie Kay
Debbie Peterson
and my 2 faves: Maureen Tudor (Velvet Underground) and Caroline Corr

Maeve, a refuge

[gams]

Just an update on the tortured animal sounds coming from within my house....

My Once Screeching-Dying-Cat Sounding Violinist made second chair in the 7th and 8th Grade Orchestra Harmony Section.

Musical Chairs was never my thing; I was more of a Red Rover, Red Rover, Send Phalon Right Over kinda girl, but LX is excited about making Second Chair, and I am the Proud Mom Still Wearing Earplugs.

[Quettalee]

Congratulations to LX!

(I made first chair with my French horn. There was only one French horn. Pfft.)

[Joxcee]

Congratulations!!!

[gams]

The other night was our town's biggest Christmas event - The Christmas Collage Concert. It takes place in the town theatre, just two years old after they converted the building that housed the old theatre - a beautiful, but in need of repairs place - into condos. Argh.

Endless running back and forth, shuttling car loads of giggling, OMG did you hear what so-and-so said about so-and-so?, primping girls to practices and dress rehearsals; weeks filled with endless hours, (which amounted to probably no more than 1 1/2 hours total; she doesn't practice enough), of listening to the same few songs coming from her bedroom, and finally came the night of the concert - two sold-out standing-room only performances. Nearly the whole town turns out for this event.

LX looked so grown up in her Middle School Orchestra uniform: long black skirt, white tux blouse, a purple floret tie and cumberbund, and black pumps, (mine - and damn, when did she get so big; I swear she was just a little kid the other day). She looked beautiful.

And the concert was beautiful.

In a town so small, our kids are lucky to so many school music programs to choose from - the music departments get as much, if not more attention than the football program.

In order of appearance, performing were the Middle School Concert Band, the High School Choir, the High School Beta Jazz Band, the Middle School Orchestra, the High School Tone Chimes, The Middle School Girls Choir, the High School Concert Band, violin and piano soloists, the High School Chorale, the High School Jazz Ensemble, the High School String Quintet, the High School Recorders, the Middle School Choir, the High School String Orchestra, the High School Full Orchestra, the Middle School Boys Choir, the High School Women’s Chorus, and the High School Symphony Band.

The solo violinst's performance made me cry; the pianist's the same, and the Beta Jazz Band's young woman bassist was just plain fun to watch. Some of these "kids" have amazing talent.

LX may not continue with the violin; she says loves it, but doesn't take it seriously - she'd rather do a million other things other than practice. But Thrusday night, Hubs and I were one of many, many very proud parents sitting in the audience.

[gams]

The last couple weeks of school, LX’s orchestra class went through scores (pun intended) of musical pieces, choosing which one they’d like to play for the fall festival, the idea being from the orchestra conductor, I’m sure, they’d get plenty of practice over summer vacation.

LX was so excited. After auditions, she got her first solo!

The piece they chose was “The Rosin Eating Zombies from Outer-space”. LX’s solo is a couple of screams. (eye-roll) I guess yelling at her sister all these years has paid off. I am not excited about hearing her practice throughout the summer.

This is not LX's class obviously, but here's the piece...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJHrVwdcGZo&feature=related

[Quettalee]

How cool and what a proud moment it will be for mom when those "dainty" pipes sing out!

Does this mean that LX's interest is still not what you would consider a passion for her stringed friend...or is she just such a natural for the screaming that they could look no farther? Does she still play as well as scream in the number?

[gams]

LX has a passion for the violin, but it stops at the mention of the word "practice". She loves orchestra, but I have that Mom-Feeling it's more of a social thing for her, than the desire to excel at playing. But, though I haven't received her final report card in the mail yet, she's gotten "A"s in orchestra all throughout the year. Straight "A"s, in fact, across the board in all of her classes; she's one of those kids that doesn't have to study....because she doesn't. That will probably change, of course, once she hits high-school, but for now, school-work comes easy.


She has, at times, a very macabre sense of humor, and I'm sure, she gave "The Scream" every ounce of energy she could muster to get the part. I've heard it - she had to demonstrate, of course. It is the most high-pitched, ear-splitting, blood-curdling thing you could imagine. I truly hope her lack of enthusiasm for practicing carries over to the scream part. Can you imagine what the neighbors would think is going on in the house?

I'd much rather hear the screeching coming from the violin, instead of her mouth. I think I know a way. Combine the macabre with music, and what do you have? Throw in one oh-so-hot Johnny Depp, her all time favorite oh-so-hot actor, and it's perfect. "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street". She's seen it at least a dozen times with her best bud.....she owns the DVD....and walks around singing the lyrics, (talk about getting irritating songs stuck in your head). She actually asked, "Mom, can you ask Q to burn a CD for me?" You notice I haven't bothered you with the request. I think I'll just get the soundtrack, and perhaps I can hunt up sheet music too. Her and her bud want to present the idea of playing the music in orchestra.

And yes, the movie has a "graphic, bloody gore" warning, and how could I let her watch it? It's fake....and it's meant to look fake, and almost surreal. It's Tim Burton and Johnny Depp all the way. It's not a killer-on-the-lose-and-he's-coming-to-get-you type thing. It's not scary. A tragedy, with healthy doses of macabre humor, great music ....and more than a little blood. I actually love the movie too.