This just in: Fiona is enthusiastic about something!

[saffronhare]

Yesterday, the middle school music teachers did their "band visits" at FionaPie's elementary school. All the fourth-graders who want to try out musical instruments get the chance to make a sound, and the music teachers sort of score them and make recommendations about what they could choose to play.

FionaPie has been counting down to this event for MONTHS. I kid you not. Three of the older kids play musical instruments and she wanted IN on this game something fierce. I think I might hear "I wish I could start playing an instrument" almost as often as I hear "I wish I had my own room," and that's saying something, believe you me.

Anyway. The family betting pool had her choosing clarinet. Except NO. Girl has her heart set on playing cello, of all things. She truly was so excited she couldn't sit still last night. And you know what? She really did make a lovely sound on the instrument when B.Ryce brought his downstairs to let her try it out. (Yes, it's bigger than she is.) It's pretty cool that the middle school has an orchestra *and* a band.

So that'll be interesting. KiraDeara is, of course, DYING of jealousy. She'll get her turn soon enough.

Comments

[lilia-blackbear.livejournal.com]

That's great! Sir Dynamo's school system (Lawrence) doesn't do this... instead, they actually have a summer intensive that costs money to see even if the child wants to play, and what instrument the child is best playing. In the intensive, they have them try a few instruments from each family (except percussion) to narrow down what they will play and give them instructions on it... Sir Dynamo goes back and forth on wanting to do this or not. He really wants to play the harmonica, he says, and I told him that isn't a part of band or orchestra. He has also shown interest in the flute, but I think it will frustrate him!

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

There is "orchestra camp" later on in the summer, but she's got to register for it this month in order to participate. Hrm.

[bleuberi21.livejournal.com]

Awesome! I love cellos.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

I am delighted at the image of tiny Fiona and the giant cello.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

I hear that she'll be working with something like a half-size or three-quarter-size instrument at first, but still. HUGE. I think the nice sound mostly came from a certain awareness of holding her body -- and specifically her arms -- the way the teacher told her to. That girl is eminently coachable. If she's shown to hold her arm a certain way, then by all the gods she's going to hold it that way FOREVER.

[katzenfrau.livejournal.com]

Cello is lovely. If I had a chance to be a fourth grader picking an instrument, that's the one I'd wish myself to have picked.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

One of the great joys of my life was one evening when I worked with the KC Symphony. It was a "major donor appreciation event" and I was just on staff, but I got to sit *inside* the cello section for one of the symphony rehearsals. It was wondrous and I still tear up whenever I think about it.

I never had much talent for music at all, but I'm glad the kids are getting these opportunities.

[rebeccafiddler.livejournal.com]

Okay, now I can opine about something I am truly knowledgeable about. *points to icon*

Violins (and, by extension, fiddles) get all the press with bowed string instruments, and they are relatively easy to learn and fun to play. And they come in all sizes, from something suitable for a 3-year-old (my daughter played on a 1/20th size violin when she was that age) to the full-size ones that adults use.

But then, so do violas and cellos. And even string basses, although I seriously do not recommend bass as a starter instrument for anyone below high school age. And violas and cellos (*especially* violas) are great instruments to learn and play during high school and college, because quite frequently they can pay their way. (Seriously - I went to college on a full-ride scholarship for viola, even though I had only made the switch from violin during my last year of high school.)

And they make pretty music that tends to be less 'screechy' than violin music. My daughter opted for cello when she hit 5th grade, and played it off and on during high school and beyond. Her cello is with me right now, but only because she has no space for it in her living area - it's still *hers*.

And cello parts are fun to play, so your daughter will have the opportunity to learn lots of cool music. (Well, except for Pachelbel - he hates cello players, probably because one of them dissed him at an early age. See "Pachelbel Rant" on YouTube...)

So I approve wholeheartedly of her choice and look forward to hearing your stories about it in the future.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

I am so NOT knowledgeable. I figure my job right now is to say yes, write the check for instrument rental, drive the girl around, and show up for concerts. We'll see what comes after.

This is the girl who just got notice today that she's qualified for 2011 Junior Nationals for TKD. The problem might not be what'll take her to college...

[zylch.livejournal.com]

::sees "Pachebel Rant," dies of laughter::

So very true -- I am constantly assaulted by Pachabesque songs on the store radio! (We horn players have it a bit better than the cellists, I think. I've had some boring parts, but nothing quite as bad as the Canon in D is for cello.)

[rebeccafiddler.livejournal.com]

The viola equivalent for Canon is Ravel's Bolero - we're the only instruments that never get the melody, only the under-beat (for a thousand iterations...).

A long time ago, that music was used as background for the sex scenes in '10' (the movie with Bo Derek in cornrow braids), and I used to get asked if I thought it would make good 'mood music'. My general response was an incredulous stare, followed by maniacal laughter...

[celticwhistlin.livejournal.com]

I <3 cello!

I am jealous. I didn't get an option to play a stringed instrument. It was some band monstrosity or nothing. So flute it was. I couldn't stand anything with a reed. I hate wood in my mouth.

My apologies to Saff for delving into the gutter on her journal...

[lilia-blackbear.livejournal.com]

I hate wood in my mouth.

**blink, blink**

Re: My apologies to Saff for delving into the gutter on her journal...

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

*snerk*