So Glad I Listened

"Music washes away the dust of everyday life."-Auerbach

This is the time of year packed with music festivals and recitals. This time of year, for the Watson family,  begins now and doesn't end until the end of May. It means that I now spend much of my time getting my children to and from rehearsals and performances at various schools throughout the county. It also means that I spend much of my time purring in the audience during said performances. You see, if Neil and I weren't spending all of our money on instruments and private lessons, then I would be spending it on season symphony tickets. Since the children's musical experiences trump such frivolities, I get my music fix at their concerts.

And I must say, that when Jessica's Youth Symphony performs, it is not a far cry from that experienced at Abravanel Hall. I sit in the audience almost gloating at the fact that I am enjoying such an event for free. Jessica has quite an admiration for her many music mentors. One such mentor is this conductor, a high energy fellow, full of humor, and yet kind hearted. He walks in to lead this prestigious orchestra with a Spiderman backpack. The cellists in this group tend to be an over-zealous bunch and overpower the violinists at times. The conductor is constantly trying to reel them in. At one point he simply yelled, "Cellos you boogers, Shut Up!" Humor Jessica loves and appreciates.

Look at Jessica's face in these pictures. This is a child completely in her element. She is soaking in and relishing every moment of this experience. I don't know that I've ever seen her having so much fun. 

I can remember when Jessica approached me in 6th grade about playing the cello and how I kind of moaned inside. The cello is such a big instrument, and it carries with it a rather large price tag. She was already a pretty amazing pianist, and I had visions of her being a concert pianist. She was trying to tell us something, and I kind of didn't want to listen. We went ahead and bought the cello, hoping that it would be a hobby instrument and that she would now be more content to practice her piano.

Two years later, she approached me again. This time she begged me to let her quit piano lessons and begin private cello lessons. This was difficult to swallow. She was such a beautiful pianist! Cello lessons were more expensive. She was trying to tell us something, and I kind of didn't want to listen. But we went ahead and started looking for cello teachers, and by some miracle, one of the best teachers in the area was accepting students. Jessica has never looked back. Her cello is her greatest passion. And she has become just as passionate about the music that she plays. She plans to pursue the cello in college and hopefully teach music someday.

When I look at these pictures, I can only say that I am glad that I listened. I have come to learn that at around the age of 12, probably even before that, kids start to have a sense of who they are becoming or who they want to become. And if we parents will sit still and actually listen, they will try to tell us what they love and where their interests lie. If we don't ignore what they are saying or immediately try to reprogram them, we may be the facilitators of something great. We may get to just step aside and watch our child blossom naturally into what they were meant to become. It terrifies me to think how close I came to disregarding what Jessica was trying so earnestly to tell me five years ago. It would have altered who she is today. 

I would have missed this big Tchaikovsky finish. I would have missed this priceless look on her face. I would have missed that unbridled energy, as she came home from this concert at 9:30 at night and immediately began practicing her cello. I would have missed it all.

And she would have missed all of this. When your child speaks...listen...really listen. We have no idea the potential of these spirits we've been given stewardship over. Jessica is starting to steer her own life now. I am very much a counselor more than I am anything else. But I'd like to think that Neil and I gave her those wings that she is so enjoying flapping. The money and the time that we have sacrificed seems like a little thing now.

Jessica wanted me to be sure to document the bow hair she broke during that triumphant finale. She did indeed show Dvorak and Tchaikovsky who's boss.