“You’re a musical genius!” I shouted in excitement for her newfound ability. Of course my encouragement was exaggerated, but positive reinforcement is key here. And my excitement was very real. I can picture an adult Winter — from the front row of the Merrill Auditorium — furiously bowing as if she were playing to keep the devil from winning her soul. And a rock orchestra is backing her with thunderous bass drums and guitar riffs. And the audience is wild with applause. And ...
“Mom!” she clapped her wee hands in front of my glazed eyes. “Listen to how fast I can play it.” I might’ve cried. I can’t remember.
Growing up, my mom was very encouraging about anything we did. My older brother once told our mom he had just finished reading the Satanic Bible and she replied, “Oh, that’s nice,” breathy and approving. Many parents aren’t that accepting and would’ve sent him off to Jesus Camp. I, like my mother, am accepting of whoever Winter wants to be or whatever she wants to do (well, as long as it’s not smoking crack). When she said she wanted to be a cheerleader I supported her by watching “Bring it On Again” a thousand times and bought little pom poms. I secretly wished — as hard as I could — that it was a phase soon to vanish.
When it comes to the violin, I listen to her play and tell her how wonderful it sounds. I also tell her if a note or her rhythm is off. But I take it a step further by showing her the power and potential of her instrument. When Winter has an interest, I not only support her, but show her how to make her dreams into realities. I was well into my 20s before I realized if I wanted something I had to make it happen. If I can teach her that lesson at this age, she’ll be unstoppable.
My first thought was to take her to a concert where she could see a fiddle player rocking out. (Fiddle and violin are the same thing. The word fiddle is used when describing nonclassical music.) Alas, the Jerks of Grass are only playing the bar scene. The next best thing would be for Winter to watch concert footage.
With gushing hope of inspiration, I played for Winter the “Palace of Mirrors Live,” a DVD suggested by Adam from Confusatron (one of my favorite local bands). She watched, at first perplexed. By the second song she reached an understanding of what the band was doing and her little foot lightly tapped to the beat. She gave a thumbs up to the violin player, and when asked if she wanted to play like him she responded, “No. I want to play better than him.”
I’ll be sure to invite you all when she’s playing at Merrill.