Springtime in Washington, D.C. -- time for something "fresh and new." I haven't taken my fiddle outside and played for quite a while. My coop apartment building has a great front porch with nice chairs and benches. I was just overcome with the desire to grab the fiddle and go outside, sit on the front porch and play some tunes, especially with all the practicing I've done during the last six months which has caused my playing to improve in many ways -- so I have some "new chops" to show my neighbors.
I had a great time playing on the front porch, and I found that I have a select dedicated audience. Can you guess who????
BABIES. Yup, that's right, BABIES. Little, fuzzy-headed, babbling tots, with maybe a few words in their vocabularies, being pushed up and down 17th Street in all manner of baby strollers (everything from the Rolls Royce of baby strollers to the stripped down, dime-store model). I had at least FOUR and perhaps more parents stop in front of the building with their babies. Mom and Dad want to see if they can get Baby to say 'violin." I swear, this is the truth.
And I happily obliged, getting up from the porch and walking out to meet "the BABIES" and their Moms and Dads, slowing down the tunes, playing gently, and explaining to 'Baby" that someday he/she could be chopping away at one of these curious-looking things too.
I won a few gap-toothed smiles. I got a lot of rapt attention. Nobody "boo'ed" me or crfitiqued me.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS AS A REWARDING EXPERIENCE. GO OUT AND PLAY TUNES FOR BABIES.
Good grief, one devoted Dad actually crossed the street with his en-strollered tot, after standing on the other side of the street listening for several minutes.
I take my fiddle to work and practice on the walking trail next to our building. More often, co workers come and walk and comment on my playing, More often, women, rather than men. If I knew that 30 years ago, I would have taken my fiddle to heart instead of learning how to play finger style guitar.
Years ago when I had been playing only a short time, and was trying to find a lot of practice time every day, I used to take my fiddle to work with me. I would go ask the chief maintenance guy if it was okay if I played back in some room where they stacked supplies. So I played in "broom closets," so to speak (which was definitely the right place for me to be at the time).
I hadn't played guitar in a while and about 6 years ago I took it out to amuse my daughter. She was about 10 at the time and she has autism and cerebral palsy. We try to get her to use sign language. Hearing music was the best motivator. We were able to get her to sign "music" (which looks like strumming or bowing).
A local coffee house has musical acts and I've taken her there on weekends. Then, I started to play a local session in a coffee house on Sunday mornings. Her "music" sign means "take me out to the coffee house." If we pause too long between songs, she yells out - very loudly. I've told the other players that it's a request. She can be attentive when we are playing (sometimes not - such is autisim).
She also will strum my guitar. She even has her preferences, strumming is better than finger picking.
Music is very therapeutic and a great motivator. We did kid music groups (Kindermusic) when she was very young and I was able to get her to respond in ways she hadn't done before.
Keep playing for the babies. They are soothed and I can't think of a parent who isn't greatful for that.
When my daughters were very small (one or below), they were already exposed to ITM and they have loved it ever since. Quiet often I have played ITM or STM tunes for "stopdance" at Children´s birthday parties. It´s always one of the highlights for them, because they can easily relate to the driving pulses of the tunes and they also enjoy the sounds of the typical instruments.
My two boys have been indoctrinated from birth. My wife admitted that the other day she jumped in the car and as soon as she turned the key my latest CD of accordion music started. Saying to herself "We don't want this cr@p!" she turned on the radio instead. A little three year old voice promptly piped up from the back "We don't want THIS cr@p. We want DADDY'S MUSIC." I've forgiven him many transgressions since, on the strength of that one comment alone...
A couple of years ago I watched my first granddaughter (then 2) and her cousin (also 2) dancing to a Mozart piano concerto being played on the television by Daniel Barenboim.
I completely agree with you. We have a pathway behind our house which I used to be able to see from the window of my upstairs office. (The trees cover that view now.) One summer evening, I looked out to see two adorable toddler twin boys dancing on the path to my fiddle music!
When it came time to pick an instrument, it was a given that I'd pick violin since my beloved great-uncle had played for me my entire life, all ten years of it at that point. I play his fiddle to this day and expect to have no other.
I never miss a chance to show kids that music doesn't just come from TV or another device, but is made by real people with musical instruments. When we had a session going at a nearby pub, some of our best fans were kids. We had one girl about 11 whose reward for finishing her homework early and well was to come hear the session. There was a three-year-old girl who was one of our biggest fans. Her father told me that she reminded them throughout the week that Tuesday was session night. I'm sure we had a future musician there.
There is no greater joy than playing for the very young. The only thing that comes close is playing for the very old. They are both amazingly appreciative in their own way.
Was at a house party recently with a friend's 3 year old daughter. Boy, was she a demanding dancer. "More music Uncle Ian! I want to dance!" "OK darling, here we go!"
Babies are good, but once they turn 2, they start covering their ears with their hands...(couldn't be my squawking, could it???). Actually, now that my daughter is 4, she wants to play fiddle -- but it has to be pink. Think I'll wait on that, since I think she thinks of it more of an accessory than an instrument.
Being an avid horsewoman, sometimes I go out and play in the barn in the summer (a bit too cold here in Montana for wintertime barn playing). My horses are fine listeners, and their chomp, chomp, chomp rhythm makes a good metronome to keep me from rushing, plus the high barn ceiling makes me sound better than I am...
How do you know you are playing with lift and rythym? Watch the baby or toddler move. (may be hands, head, feet !!) in time with your playing. When you play well, they give you a great response.
toddler: "d a da d a da da da da da da da da da da da da da da"
dad: "He said daddy, did you hear him? He said daddy."
toddler: "da da da da da da da dada da ma da da da"
mum: "Oh my sweet beautiful thing, you said mummy."
toddler: "grrrreaaaayyyeeaereaeuammmmptsteeeeaaah"
dad: "Quick, he asked for a slice of Gruyere on toast"
Playing for a Select Audience
Playing for a Select Audience
Springtime in Washington, D.C. -- time for something "fresh and new." I haven't taken my fiddle outside and played for quite a while. My coop apartment building has a great front porch with nice chairs and benches. I was just overcome with the desire to grab the fiddle and go outside, sit on the front porch and play some tunes, especially with all the practicing I've done during the last six months which has caused my playing to improve in many ways -- so I have some "new chops" to show my neighbors.
I had a great time playing on the front porch, and I found that I have a select dedicated audience. Can you guess who????
BABIES. Yup, that's right, BABIES. Little, fuzzy-headed, babbling tots, with maybe a few words in their vocabularies, being pushed up and down 17th Street in all manner of baby strollers (everything from the Rolls Royce of baby strollers to the stripped down, dime-store model). I had at least FOUR and perhaps more parents stop in front of the building with their babies. Mom and Dad want to see if they can get Baby to say 'violin." I swear, this is the truth.
And I happily obliged, getting up from the porch and walking out to meet "the BABIES" and their Moms and Dads, slowing down the tunes, playing gently, and explaining to 'Baby" that someday he/she could be chopping away at one of these curious-looking things too.
I won a few gap-toothed smiles. I got a lot of rapt attention. Nobody "boo'ed" me or crfitiqued me.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS AS A REWARDING EXPERIENCE. GO OUT AND PLAY TUNES FOR BABIES.
Good grief, one devoted Dad actually crossed the street with his en-strollered tot, after standing on the other side of the street listening for several minutes.
Linda
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Fid42
Re: Playing for a Select Audience
I take my fiddle to work and practice on the walking trail next to our building. More often, co workers come and walk and comment on my playing, More often, women, rather than men. If I knew that 30 years ago, I would have taken my fiddle to heart instead of learning how to play finger style guitar.
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by I_Fel
Re: Playing for a Select Audience
Years ago when I had been playing only a short time, and was trying to find a lot of practice time every day, I used to take my fiddle to work with me. I would go ask the chief maintenance guy if it was okay if I played back in some room where they stacked supplies. So I played in "broom closets," so to speak (which was definitely the right place for me to be at the time).
Linda
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Fid42
Re: Playing for a Select Audience
I hadn't played guitar in a while and about 6 years ago I took it out to amuse my daughter. She was about 10 at the time and she has autism and cerebral palsy. We try to get her to use sign language. Hearing music was the best motivator. We were able to get her to sign "music" (which looks like strumming or bowing).
A local coffee house has musical acts and I've taken her there on weekends. Then, I started to play a local session in a coffee house on Sunday mornings. Her "music" sign means "take me out to the coffee house." If we pause too long between songs, she yells out - very loudly. I've told the other players that it's a request. She can be attentive when we are playing (sometimes not - such is autisim).
She also will strum my guitar. She even has her preferences, strumming is better than finger picking.
Music is very therapeutic and a great motivator. We did kid music groups (Kindermusic) when she was very young and I was able to get her to respond in ways she hadn't done before.
Keep playing for the babies. They are soothed and I can't think of a parent who isn't greatful for that.
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by grumblingoldwoman
Re: Playing for a Select Audience
When my daughters were very small (one or below), they were already exposed to ITM and they have loved it ever since. Quiet often I have played ITM or STM tunes for "stopdance" at Children´s birthday parties. It´s always one of the highlights for them, because they can easily relate to the driving pulses of the tunes and they also enjoy the sounds of the typical instruments.
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by Reelin´ man
Re: Playing for a Select Audience
My two boys have been indoctrinated from birth. My wife admitted that the other day she jumped in the car and as soon as she turned the key my latest CD of accordion music started. Saying to herself "We don't want this cr@p!" she turned on the radio instead. A little three year old voice promptly piped up from the back "We don't want THIS cr@p. We want DADDY'S MUSIC." I've forgiven him many transgressions since, on the strength of that one comment alone...
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by bc_box_player
Re: Playing for a Select Audience
A couple of years ago I watched my first granddaughter (then 2) and her cousin (also 2) dancing to a Mozart piano concerto being played on the television by Daniel Barenboim.
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by lazyhound
Re: Playing for a Select Audience
I completely agree with you. We have a pathway behind our house which I used to be able to see from the window of my upstairs office. (The trees cover that view now.) One summer evening, I looked out to see two adorable toddler twin boys dancing on the path to my fiddle music!
When it came time to pick an instrument, it was a given that I'd pick violin since my beloved great-uncle had played for me my entire life, all ten years of it at that point. I play his fiddle to this day and expect to have no other.
I never miss a chance to show kids that music doesn't just come from TV or another device, but is made by real people with musical instruments. When we had a session going at a nearby pub, some of our best fans were kids. We had one girl about 11 whose reward for finishing her homework early and well was to come hear the session. There was a three-year-old girl who was one of our biggest fans. Her father told me that she reminded them throughout the week that Tuesday was session night. I'm sure we had a future musician there.
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by cathrynb
Re: Playing for a Select Audience
You're all wonderful! Good on all of you!
There is no greater joy than playing for the very young. The only thing that comes close is playing for the very old. They are both amazingly appreciative in their own way.
Was at a house party recently with a friend's 3 year old daughter. Boy, was she a demanding dancer. "More music Uncle Ian! I want to dance!" "OK darling, here we go!"
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Playing for a Select Audience
Babies are good, but once they turn 2, they start covering their ears with their hands...(couldn't be my squawking, could it???). Actually, now that my daughter is 4, she wants to play fiddle -- but it has to be pink. Think I'll wait on that, since I think she thinks of it more of an accessory than an instrument.
Being an avid horsewoman, sometimes I go out and play in the barn in the summer (a bit too cold here in Montana for wintertime barn playing). My horses are fine listeners, and their chomp, chomp, chomp rhythm makes a good metronome to keep me from rushing, plus the high barn ceiling makes me sound better than I am...
# Posted on April 15th 2008 by swillybay
Re: Playing for a Select Audience
How do you know you are playing with lift and rythym? Watch the baby or toddler move. (may be hands, head, feet !!) in time with your playing. When you play well, they give you a great response.
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by southsider
Re: Playing for a Select Audience
toddler: "d a da d a da da da da da da da da da da da da da da"
dad: "He said daddy, did you hear him? He said daddy."
toddler: "da da da da da da da dada da ma da da da"
mum: "Oh my sweet beautiful thing, you said mummy."
toddler: "grrrreaaaayyyeeaereaeuammmmptsteeeeaaah"
dad: "Quick, he asked for a slice of Gruyere on toast"
# Posted on April 16th 2008 by llig leahcim