making music again

Sep 14, 2011

Blythe has been playing the violin since she was five years old. She started begging to play when she was three after spending many an afternoon at Jane’s home watching her children practice their cellos and violins. Her dream to become a skilled musician has completely altered the culture in our home and for that gift I will always be grateful. Keziah plays the violin also, I am learning the cello, and our little ones have grown up listening to Bach, Mozart, Schubert, and Stravinsky. We are a musical family which always takes me by surprise when I think about it because I am about the farthest thing from musical.

Blythe grew out of her 1/2 size violin several years ago. Then we traded with a friend who needed a half-size and had a 3/4 size. That violin lasted her about a year. She has needed a full-size for nearly two years, but we haven’t been able to afford one for her. We have been actively searching for the last several months and waiting for a miracle to provide a way to get her the violin she needs to be able to continue progressing. A few weeks ago some family members offered to contribute to her violin fund and this renewed our search efforts. After visiting several violin shops and playing dozens of instruments, Blythe found the one she loved. She brought it home to test out for awhile and now she is certain it is the one for her. She has been practicing for hours on it this week and is thoroughly smitten with her choice. I have loved hearing her play and already I can hear a big improvement.

There have been so many times I have wanted to give up on this dream of hers. It seemed impossible, expensive, and far too time-consuming. It seemed to take too much patience on my part and too much determination on hers. Hearing her play the last few days has renewed my faith in her dream and recommitted me to be a violin-mama.

Isn’t that the way it is with dreams? They take hard work, courage, a few miracles, and someone who loves you enough to invest in your dream with you to help them come true.

Thank you violin-fund-donors…you are investing in my girl’s dream!