PHOTO PROMPT © Amanda Forestwood
“Oh look!” sighed Melinda. “The beautiful music I could play!”
The violin’s owner approached. “I overheard your comments.” He adjusted his instrument and drew his bow across the strings. Exquisite notes sang out.
“There, see, Mama? I KNEW it would be wonderful!”
The violinist handed the instrument to Melinda. “Try it.”
Melinda adjusted the violin. Expecting to hear beauty, she drew the bow across the strings and heard dull, squeaking, off-pitch sounds instead. Tears welled up.
“The instrument needs an experienced musician to draw out its music. Someday, if you practice faithfully, the violin will sing for you, too.”
Just Writing! 
Children are drawn to musical instrument and so many do feel disappointed. But, we know that only practice leads to perfection.
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Thanks, James.
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The lure and disappointment of instant gratification
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Yes. There is an old peom that instantly came to mind called “The Touch of the Master’s Hand.” It’s not always the quality of the instrument, but the quality of the musician, that counts.
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A lot of practice – I regret I didn’t keep it up as a child, but when you’re young you want instant gratification! Nice one.
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I still want instant gratification, Iain. A magic wand!
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If only it worked that way 🙂
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I think a lot of people would share your regret, Iain. I wanted piano lessons SO badly, as a child, but there just wasn’t any money for that. So I taught myself, developing some very bad habits along the way. And now, at 75, I’m finally taking lessons–and I LOVE it! Practice, practice, practice!
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Well done for sticking at it Linda! 🙂
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Linda, I know those sounds and the disappointment only too well. I played for quite a few years and the trouble is that while you might practice, improve and perfect, then the barrier raises and you’re never quite able to master the !@#$ thing. My violin was also very possessive and spat the dummy when I neglected it for more than a day or two. However, it seems to have had therapy because after 3 years of solid neglect, it played quite nicely when I picked it up the other day.
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It forgave you 🙂
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In the right hands a piece of junk sounds gorgeous, but it does take a long time… I hope Mamma is prepared for years of listening to scratches on a chalk board as Melinda learns 😉
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It was always music to my ears when my kids practiced–without being told 🙂
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Yes, good point 🙂
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For any skill, there is no getting around practice. I wonder if she will be motivated to do it…
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I think she will. She’ll remember how beautiful that violin sounded under the hands of a master!
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If it was easy anyone could do it.
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Dear Linda,
The wise musician is pointing her in the right direction. Lovely little story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Practice, practice, and so on… None of this “gifted” crap. Play on!
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Reminds me of taking guitar lessons as a teen. I never got past the screeching so I picked up a scalpel instead.
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Well, I think that was probably a very wise choice :). Although there are many doctors who are excellent musicians.
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practice makes perfect so they say 🙂
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true that.
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Melinda’s mother has some dreadful days ahead. I remember when my son first began playing the saxaphone. A wonderful slice of life with good advice as well!
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Thanks, Brenda. I went through trumpet, bariton, sax, and clarinet–plus piano–when my four were in high school. Don’t regret it, but it sure was nice when they started to actually make music 🙂
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I’d like to think that one day he’ll hear playing as beautifully as he did.
*There seems to be a certain similarity in our stories this week Linda!
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Yes, I thought so too 🙂
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A lovely story, let’s hope the child doesn’t give up on it. Someone once told me, the music wants out if it is in you.
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