Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.
— Lao Tzu
When my oldest was an active, playful 18 month old, he asked: “Can I play violin?” That was one of his first full sentences.
We did not have a violin or piano in our home. I wondered how he knew what a violin was. I asked around, and other moms told me that children as young as three study violin. No one else I spoke to had a child asking to play an instrument.
During that time, we moved and I had our second son. When my oldest was three, I met a woman in my yoga class who was beginning a new group of 3- and 4-year old violin students in the fall. I asked her if I should take seriously his request despite his young age, and she said yes, of course.
I remember sitting outside in the sunshine on my deck, when I told my three-year old son that I was going to take him to see a lesson if he still wanted to learn. He said: “Mom, I’m sorry I’ve been so mean to you lately.” I was silenced.
My eldest sat calmly on my lap for 45 minutes listening to a chaotic double lesson with two siblings just back from a summer music camp in Colorado. He said not a word and barely moved, which was not his normal behavior at all. Eventually the teacher turned to me, and she said: “I forgot you were here, he was so quiet. That’s a very long time for a child his age, you don’t need to stay to the end.”
My son climbed down, walked up to the teacher and said: “That was the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard.” He had never heard live violin music before.
intense green eyes
unwavering on the strings
hearing with his whole being
My husband I had never studied music. Nine years after deciding to honor my young son’s wishes, my oldest and youngest play violin, my second son plays cello and drums, and all three play piano. My husband and I have learned some violin and piano as adults. In our house, we have three violins, a cello, a digital piano, a Yamaha piano, a marimba, a saxophone, a trumpet, an acoustic guitar, a sanza, a variety of drums, a cymbal. We have all played music together in several concerts.
The kids now see music as part of our lives. They are talented singers, in chorus and musicals, in addition to playing in orchestras. All three of my children make up their own songs and improvise by preference. Music has become part of the fabric of our souls. Perhaps it always was.
steel strings ring
my soul expands with each note
vibrating
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Inspired by the Weekly Ligo Haibun Challenge prompt, this one providing the quote at the top.
First of all, thank you for liking my post “Harvesting rainwater”. It made me curious about what you posted on your blog, so I took the opportunity to look around. I love this post about your son and the violin. Very lovely. Good luck with your writing!
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Thanks! I thought your post quite clever. Good luck with your writing, too!
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What a lot of comments…! What a lovely haibun…strangely enough I loved my sons screechy violin practice…just a shame that he didn,t……
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I love my kids’ music, too!
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We had a piano – I sang in choirs. Our boys got some background. But it takes a strong love and discipline to want to play and learn so many instruments. Not being good with math… Rhythm not my thing.
I’ve got a cased up violin… that maybe the grands will use. I just need to find someone to put music to the lullabies I made up….
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Maybe the grands will be musical and compose for you. 🙂 I will hope so for you. Take care and hugs, Brenda
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Oh I had to comment on this Brenda I come from a family that is known for their musical talent. All my Uncles play guitar and play in bands and one is rather famous up in the Wisconsin area. My brother is a lead guitarist. My dad went to college on a voice scholarship. hello you think I could carry a tune. NOPE. Nothing. What happened everyone but me is musically inclined. I’m joking I’ve made peace with it because I can dance when they play. So I love story about your kids. Wow it’s so cool!
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It does seem to blossom where it wants. I didn’t know you had such an artistic family, but it figures. Music is just another face to art, and you have that in abundance. 🙂 Hugs, Brenda
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Awh Bless you and I Hope your trip is a dream come true! Sounds like it is:)
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My daughter told me that some of her dreams have come true. I’m so happy she continues to have new ones. LOL Some of my dreams have come true, too!
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I love it when that happens and I’m so glad you can say this! 🙂 It feels good doesn’t it?
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It does feel good, and I have to treasure it. She will be a little princess, as long as I can manage it. 🙂 Next stop, the pool…
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🙂 love that! 🙂
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How sweet! I believe our children bring so many gifts to us. You were given a gift, which you shared back, and now, look at what has happened! THAT IS LOVE IN ACTION!!! Beautiful! 🙂
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Thanks, yes, lots of love in our house!!
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
I’D SAY HER ELDEST SON WAS “INSTRUMENTAL” IN THE FAMILY’S APPRECIATION OF MUSIC! 🙂
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Brenda, sometimes there is just magic in the air, apparently you have captured it. What a wonderful post. There is always music in my home as well, but I am just a listener, just an enjoyer, but it forever plays. Thank you for such a lovely post. Take care, Bill
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Before we started playing our own, we always had music playing. 🙂 Now we often have one or the other.
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what a world you have created within your children…
to me music is the soul within life….
Thank you for sharing your story…
Take Care…You Matter…
)0(
maryrose
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I like the idea that life itself has a soul, and that music is the way it communicates with us. It must be a beautiful soul indeed. Hugs, maryrose, scatterer of smiles throughout the blogosphere! Warmly, Brenda
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I so miss my daughter playing the violin. She started in 3rd grade and quit around 7th grade. I’m a big advocate for music education for our children and I wish every child would take up a musical instrument at some point in their lives. Loving your son’s enthusiasm for music at such a young age…that melts my heart!!
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Thanks, we are definitely on a less traveled road, some of the few devoting so much to music, but we are all richer for it, I believe. Perhaps your daughter will one day play again. 🙂 Hugs, Brenda
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How intriguing; almost as though the music muse was calling to him 🙂
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He does seem to know what he wants, always. 🙂
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I love the way you describe your son as “hearing with his whole being”. What a beautiful story! It sounds like your whole family is now blessed with sounds of music everywhere! What a wonderful gift that you are able to all play together. Truly a wonderful blessing.
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My eldest is playing for me now. I feel truly blessed. Hugs, Brenda
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I’m so thankful I read your post. It literally gave me chills because I have always known that I can play the violin. Everybody always laughs at me because they think I am kidding. I have not tried yet, but your children give me the inspiration to know that when the time is right….I will!! You have an amazing family!!
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I do hope you will learn. I think part of your soul needs it. I had always wanted to play piano, and I started to learn with my son as inspiration, and I don’t regret it at all. To hear the sound swelling around me is every bit as beautiful as I imagined it. 🙂 Good luck on your journey!! Warmly, Brenda
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Thanks Brenda. It is for sure on my bucket list…maybe sooner than I think. I am glad you shared your piano playing with your son…keep making beautiful music! Lorrie
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Thanks, I’ll try!
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i love this brenda. what amazing things for such a young child to feel. what a wonderful, musical, talented, creative family you are. it runs through your blood )
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It is still unbelievable to me looking back. He has often not wanted to practice, not wanted to learn what others want him to, but he loves to play, and he has such sensitive fingers and beautiful sound. It enriches my life hearing him.
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This story brings music to my soul, Brenda. What a talented family you have.
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Thanks! We I doubt we have the next pop star, but we have lots of beautiful moments together. Hugs, Brenda
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Oh, my gosh! How amazing is that? And kudos to you for allowing your son to follow his passion. What an amazing gifted child you have. This is such a heart-warming, beautiful story!
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Thanks! It has been quite a journey for us all. But wonderful, deeply wonderful. Hugs, Brenda
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What an amazing story. 🙂
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Thanks! All true, weird, but true. 🙂
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what a lovely story, Brenda. Already, I love the sounds in your house.
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Thanks, my friend. I hope you are enjoying winter in your neck of the woods!
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What a wonderful story. I was hooked from the very first sentence. I’m in awe of your son and the respectful way you have parented him. I have read that reincarnating souls chose their parents – the way you honoured your son’s desire to play music and nurtured the music in his soul bears out that idea. Both you and he are truly blessed.
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What an incredibly nice comment! Wow. He certainly is his own person, and has been since a very young age. We feel blessed. Thanks for your supportive comments, Suzanne! Warmly, Brenda
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🙂 Great story.
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Thanks!
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What a beautiful story! Your family sounds lovely! Thank you for sharing 🙂
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Thanks! I love music these days, and was lucky it elbowed into my life. 🙂
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