Friday, April 10, 2009

The moment I knew Xander was officially no longer a baby (even though he’s just newly four) was last night at his very first violin lesson. He was just so ready. So attentive…he got a bit bored at the end…shuffling from one foot to the other (a half hour is a LONG time to a four year old…) and then he looked askance at Gary and I, looked up to the ceiling, and let out a sigh that exhaled from his entire little body.

Seeing him hold that violin, hair wild…total concentration…this moment of fruition that he’s been asking to do since he was 2 and a half...since the days that he called it an “ovin.” … to the reasonable price of the lessons, the youth of the instructor, the ready availability of rental instruments and resources in our tiny Alaskan town…another moment knowing things were right in his world.

The instructor, the lovely Lisa, played him some bars of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star after his initial lesson in violin care, and bow handling (lots to learn before learning technique!) … the moment we got home, he begged to take the violin back out of the case (and followed her instructions for that as well…he remembered the proper way she taught him)…and proceeded to in his very sweet early rough way…play the first three notes of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. After seeing her play it, very close to his little eyes, just once. Lisa also noted that his bow handling seemed very natural already. Instinct.

I sighed my own huge sigh after that.

(only thing is, why is it he’ll listen to and execute the proper way to loosen bow hairs, but refuses to brush his teeth without being asked 11 times?)

2 comments:

Kate said...

Everyday my 9 month old son does something that makes me think that he is no longer my baby and I think this will continue for all of his life!

Natalie said...

i can't wait to see pictures. a tiny violin...so sweet. a tiny violinist...so much sweeter!