Have I mentioned that Michael now plays the trumpet? All kids in our school district are required to pick and instrument or join the chorus in fourth grade. Michael picked the trumpet (after Dave gave some subtle hints that flutes, clarinets, and chorus are for GIRLS) AT the start of this school year, all of these kids were very much beginners. Michael didn't know how to read music at all. They have band three days a week and are supposed to practice 15 min at home a night. It took about 3 months (December) for anything "musical" to come out. There were some tears as Dave made him go up and down the scale, again and again. But finally there was music!! The concert was so fun seeing all of these 4th graders all dressed up, finding their places on the stage and just looking so grown up (knowing so many of them since kindergarten). It was the coolest to see them so serious when they were playing--just trying so hard to do it right. And the best part, when they were done, and the audience was applauding so loudly for them... their smiles and obvious sense of accomplishment were just awesome. I love these times with our kids when they can tell that their hard work/practice time has paid off, and that what they get out of these little endeavors of theirs, are worth the time that they have put in...great lessons.
