July 2011

3/4 of a String Quartet

July 8, 2011 02:41

My first year playing music at the Belmont Farmers' Market, I played the viola. If you look carefully in those pictures from 4 years ago, you'll see a little tow-headed 4-year-old sitting on the curb, not looking at the camera.

That 4-year-old is now 8, and a few months ago, in the early spring, he decided he wanted to play the cello. He'd actually been saying this for a while. I'm not sure where it came from. He expressed an interest in the string bass first, and while he's tall for his age, our school system doesn't start kids on bass until 6th grade. The cello has some similarities: it's tall and it's low in pitch. I personally think it's nicer to listen to than the bass, and unlike the violin, you always get to sit down while you play. One thing that seems to be very characteristic of him in many areas of life: he wants to do his own thing. No violin or viola for him!

We played again at the market this year. After playing for 3 and a half months, my son was willing to try some easy Irish tunes, and rounds. He has been taking lessons from my daughter's teacher and occasional stand partner in the Arlington Philharmonic, shown here on 2nd violin (and me on 3rd).

Bonnie Doon

From Jul 7, 2011 Belmont Farmers Market

The Minstrel Boy

From Jul 7, 2011 Belmont Farmers Market

So, in our family, we now have 3/4 of a string quartet: my daughter on 1st violin, my son on cello, and me on violin or viola, depending on what's needed. Now we just have to teach my husband to play something . . .

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