children and music

Yesterday,May 26th,  I had another session with the seniors at the Village of Humber Heights  residence...

Although we repeat the same set of songs ( we use three song books which I compiled and printed at their in - house printing shop ) each session is always a new experience: for them and for me.

Before I play my last piece, I always face them and tell them how much I enjoyed playing for the past hour those old songs and hearing them sing with me. Their faces would beam with delight..Once in a while I would tell a joke: yesterday I told them about the "Catholic Gasoline*" and midway through the story, a few were already in stitches..

Sometimes, one of them would say: "I hope some of your children inherited your music talent.."

I told them that I taught my three children the keyboard when they were still in their pre-teens. And each time Emma and Mia ( my 2 grandchildren ) come to visit me, I also ask them to sing some songs which they learned when they were still living with us here in 19 Dixon Road.

 

I accompanied Mia in two auditions: one for a children's choir part in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAM COAT. Then when she applied for a seat at the Mayfield School of Arts in Brampton, I was with her again. She was able to get the parts she auditioned for.

 

With regards to Emma, I taught her several songs from THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Her voice range is quite high and with not much effort she can hit a very high C. She is now taking voice lessons plus Irish and tap dancing. Recently, she won some awards in an Irish Dance Festival in Montreal as well as in Ottawa.

 

I also found recently that my " adapted daughter " Susan V. have spent several years learning the keyboard when she was still in Manaoag. From what I heard when she played over the phone one time, she must have gone beyond the 5th or 6th level, Royal Conservatory of Music standard.  She plays the keyboard by sight reading..It is the kind of playing where you do not look at your keyboard but you concentrate on the music sheet in front of you, about 2 or 3 measures ahead of what you are playing. Only those who spent numerous years of piano studies can do that.  I encouraged her to start practicing everyday, because this skill, ( combination of both hands and mind ) need daily practice. One hour daily is enough to be able to sustain the ability of sight reading..

Unfortunately, I never went into this level. As soon as I learned how to play by hearing ( oido )  I stopped playing by sight.I did learn how to sight read vocal pieces.. 

Some people are born with music genes. Some don't. And if this skill is developed in early childhood, it will bring the talented child into music circles which would bring self as well as social satisfaction.---#