I have always felt like Rueben is musical. I am not, my first hurdle is my blatant lack of rhythm.I remember trying to learn a few instruments as a child and failing. I wasn't sure how to encourage him, given I had no skills in this area.
The other day after saying I would get an organ for years I finally got round to buying it. It’s an old monster, but my logic is it can’t go out of tune like a piano, and yes its a bit silly and makes weird bleeps and whatever but it is a bit more formal than a keyboard.
Today I bought some letter stickers and a young learners guide. The boy and I sat an labeled some keys, and tried to follow the book a bit. He is not a fan of correct finger placement and did get a bit cross. I’m hoping if we just do a little bit every day we will get there.
I do need to remember to leave time to just let him play. It’s hard to find that balance when there is a correct way to do things. I don’t want him to have to untrain bad habits later, but at the same time I don’t want to put him off the whole idea by making it seem to much like a stuffy job.
It’s funny my relationship to music is a rather strained one. (This is a new realization) I do listen to music and enjoy it a great deal however I feel unqualified to have an I opinion on music, it feels a foreign land a place I don’t know and don’t understand. I know people who feel this way about art, who feel unqualified to even enter an art museum and I feel sad for them. I fear they have internalized some classism or something. I feel confused by them. For me if you like it look at it. If you like it, it is good art. I don’t think it is anymore complicated than this. It is funny for me to realize that I am in fact just like this just for a different one of the human senses.
I sat down with Rueben and the book and the stickers, and no I don’t think I will ever think of myself as a musician in a million years but was surprised by how much was really logical and totally within my grasp.
Now, just to convince the boy of this.