rw-short video of Lily and her cello and general question

Yay Lily!!

Does she have to carry that cello back and forth to school?

I took paino lessons for several years when I was young. I had lessons at school and then had to practice daily at home. My sister and I did some duets at school functions and I have a very warm memory of that. I wish I'd stuck with and have considered taking lessons again but I would want my own piano again and I have no where to put one.

rwbeagles

I just have no clue even what music reading IS, honestly. I don't "get it" kinda like Algebra. Which Lily is pretty good at understanding. Maybe you need a math mind more than an artistic one? I dunno...

"reading" music (i.e., knowing what note is on that space of line) is easy.  A note on that line is an "E", etc.  But hearing it in your head??? Whoa -- NOT easy and even after almost  5 years of lessons I never DID get to the place where I could "hear" music in my head like that?  nope.

David and I were just talking about this the other day -- he's taught himself to play that cigar box guitar of his -- but he doesn't read "music" -- he just plays the Chord noted.

I laughed and told him I can "read" the notes.  And I can even tell you that "chord" that's printed on the lines may be a C, E, & F -- and I can even see it 'quick' enough to put my fingers on those keys on the piano and press them at the same time (hopefully in psych with everything else), but tell me to play an F Major chord and I'm sunk ... because I never DID learn theory well enough to have chords be automatic. 

I **wish** I knew music well enough so I could sit and effortlessly figure out what the chords would be to transpose something from the Key of C to the Key of A.  I can sit and puzzle it out by what sounds right, but to *know* it?? Nope.  (and purely envious of anyone who can!)

If she can transition it into "enjoyment" rather than just "school" it's great.  And even for someone like me who just essentially went thru the motions for 5 years (because Mom said I had to despite the civil war it caused at home), when I DID get to a place (in college) with an instrument I liked (the autoharp) it made all that heinous practicing worthwhile.

And it was really pretty fun when I was in college, and later on my own, to discover that I really enjoyed some of the classical stuff I played.  I giggle even now every time I hear someone's cell phone play Fuhr Elise -- because that was one of the first bona fide "Classical" pieces I ever played (just like Lily will probably remember "Morning" some day LOL)

But I think what you're being told and what you're seeing is that developing a musical skill developes a sense of accomplishment.  It's totally different from math, sports or video games. 

I know my husband derives a deep sense of contentment -- he never took ANY music in school at all, he can't 'read' music per se.  He has always had a wide variety of musical likes (from Classical to the Beatles to a lot of ethnic cultural music (everything from Zydeco to bagpipes and American Indian music).  But for *him* to produce it out of HIS fingers??  That's huge to him.  Very late in life for him as well.

So good for Lily -- and good for you!!

[edited because I meant "synch" not "psych" -- but trust me, I don't play any better than I spell]

Gina -- I just thot of something -- last spring when David and I saw Elton John in concert, he had these two guys playing with him (they opened for him) who were both cellists.  But OH MY .... they were beyond good.

I **think** they have an album out -- we are not talking about even "Hooked on Classics" -- we're talking about them doing stuff like Led Zepplin and U2 on cellos.

 It was honestly some of the most moving music I have EVER heard.  They were incredible -- both from Croatia I *think*.  I need to Google it myself -- I decided I wanted that album that night and never pursued it. 

http://www.nola.com/celebrities/index.ssf/2011/07/elton_john_snaps_up_hot_croati.html

It links to their name I *think*

I must say she has excellent taste!!

David and I were laughing that night -- I can just imagine as kids at home them keeping a straight face while telling Mom they were "practicing" whilst they adapted "Smooth Criminal" to the cello LOL.  They *are* incredible

 My parents never let me play any instruments in school. Well, we had to play recorder in 5th and 6th grades as part of our music class, and they would make us play in the concert. I always thought the recorder was stupid, and I wanted to play a real instrument. They let my younger sister play violin, and at some point, they also bought her a drum set that she never learned to play. She was pretty horrible at violin. I could always play the stuff we had to learn on recorder, but I always thought they were stupid dollar store pieces of crap, because they were, and they sounded horrible. We also had to sing in the concerts, which I also hated doing. In the other schools, being in the chorus was a choice, but in my school, you had to be in it. Some friends and I always thought it was because our music teacher was nasty, and nobody would volunteer to spend extra time with her to be in chorus.

 I finally got back here, lol.

 Um, the cello is almost a big as she is!  Carrying it, even in a 'backpack style,' must be a work out for her as well, lol.

She is doing very well, good job, Lily!  Keep at it.

Yes the instructor makes such a difference.  For organ, I had one on one at home lessons for 3 years and loved it.  Practicing was never an issue for me.  After a few years break, I tried another instructor who after one lesson told me I couldn't do any more without attending music college, lol.  Well, that wasn't for me, I just enjoy playing.  Big band songs (my foks' input), show tunes (very popular!), and music of the late 1960's and early 1970's, I have stacks and stacks of music!