We have a piano in the living room that I’ve been considering selling. It was bought many years ago when my oldest started taking lessons. All of my kids have musical talent — they just haven’t all nurtured and used it.
The piano has sat mostly unused for the past several years. So imagine my delight the other day when one of G’s friends — a classically trained pianist — sat down and started playing. He and my son were just hanging out at the house and his friend was invited to stay for dinner. This young man did what I always wished my kids would do — sit down and play for pleasure.
I felt like I was at a private concert. He whipped through some Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Styx and Journey, plus newer songs I’ve heard on the radio but don’t know who sings them. And these weren’t the easy versions, but the same arrangements you’d hear from the professional musicians on the album — oops, CD. It was amazing and so good to hear that silent instrument brought to life!
Later, after dinner, G’s friend started playing one of the guitars in the house. I even heard G get out the harmonica that was in his Christmas stocking one year (an attempt to entice him to play something after he stopped taking piano) and try to play along. To my knowledge, that was the first time the harmonica ever met his lips.
Maybe we should hang onto that piano a little longer? And extend an invite to my son’s friend to visit any time he likes!
I still have the cello, clarinet and trombone that my two sons played at various points before dropping. My daughter is the only one of our children who still plays the instrument she began–violin. As an avid amateur cellist myself, I know firsthand how much joy playing music can bring into a person’s life and the wonderful experiences and relationships you can have by keeping music in your life. But when I get disheartened, I remember this story: My husband, who as a child was forced to take piano and violin lessons and quit as soon as he wore his mother down from his complaints (in contrast our kids all chose to take lessons), started taking lessons and playing again for pleasure three years ago. He plays for hours every week, takes great joy in it, and would likely never have done it if he hadn’t been exposed, admittedly unwillingly, as a child. I remain hopeful my children might have a similar epiphany. In the meantime, they are avid music lovers, and that brings its own joy. I say hang on to the piano. Maybe you’ll start playing?