Parents should have their heads examined…

Posted on March 15, 2007
Filed Under Australia - The land down under, Irony Anyone? |

Or at least, I should. I sit here listening to, what should be, the beautiful strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” being mutilated by a learning child.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my daughter with a zeal that only a mother can, but, I think I may have made a rookie parent mistake when I allowed her to try out for a trumpet scholarship.

Ok, I  may be exaggerating a tad. She’s actually quite good. Chelsea has always had a natural ability when it comes to anything musical. She sings like an angel, has taught herself piano, recorder and is now learning the fine art of the trumpet. She is in a special music program at school and has been accepted into the school band. Because of this, she’ll get to perform in Sydney and in Tasmania among other places during senior high school.

I am so proud of her!! (Regardless of how Pomp and Circumstance sounds just now.) For those facing the decision of whether or not to let their child learn a horn instrument a few words of advice:

Panadol IS your friend. (Tylenol, aspirin, Advil…take your pick)
Playing into a pillow will muffle the sound but makes it hard to empty the spit valve.
Practice, however loud, makes perfect.
A child who knows they are supported and admired make an amazing effort.
Dogs don’t like the trumpet.  (Mine are howling in sync with her playing.)

Well I’m off. Dinner needs to made and she’s starting on “George of the Jungle.”

I can bop to that. :D

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Comments

2 Responses to “Parents should have their heads examined…”

  1. Stephen on March 16th, 2007 11:53 pm

    This reminds me of the movie “Love Actually” for a couple of reasons. Firstly how the guy has to endure his stepson learning the drums just to impress the girl at school and the Mum who is a little surprised to hear that her daughter is playing “First Lobster” in the nativity play. How easy it is to become out of touch!

    By the way: Why do you think I never encouraged my daughters to play a musical instrument? Ah just teasing girls. ;)

  2. Rob on April 17th, 2007 4:36 pm

    …’doing’ music at school… which really means making a racket at home under the guise of practicing…

    Now let’s see;

    First child, school choir (no home practicing.. good)
    Second child, self taught piano, keyboard at home and did viola at school but practiced it at home (viola and a cat’s howling can sound remarkably similar)
    Third child, not a musical bone in his body, but that didn’t stop him trying… eventually got the hint and started placing ice-hockey instead (no home practicing which was a mercy, but a lot more injuries than learning an instrument)
    Number Four doesn’t play an instrument but always has a OzProg (Australian Progressive) CD blaring out of the stereo
    Fifth child is a drummer, keyboardist, guitarist and electronic composer on the computer which competes something shocking when the stereo is blaring too
    Sixth child (and only girl) learnt Clarinet, one of my favorite instruments (except for a short period that coincided with Clarinet practice)
    Seventh child is self teaching on the piano as I type (mental note: Move piano to garage)
    Self (and considered the biggest child of the family) self teaching electric guitar and often tempted to unplug the headphones and turn up the amp for some payback, but I’m a little too shy to perform in public yet…

    Any wonder my wife finds a quiet spot on the verandah to read…

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