July 13, 2005 at 3:46 AM

Here is something I just remembered, and thought I should share with you as a reminder of why we play the violin.

About six months after I started playing violin, I had a part in a play where I had to play the violin (Twinkle and John Ryan's Polka I think). Anyway, after the show, a girl (whose name I never learned) came back stage with her teacher. She was a very shy but nice and polite girl, about 6 years old. And was completly blind. As I was putting away my violin, her teacher brought her over to me and asked if the girl could try my violin. So, I let her. With her holding the violin and moving the bow while I fingered some simple tune. Together, she and I played a piece that didn't sound great, but brought a huge, beautiful smile to her face.

This was several years ago, and I don't know where this girl is now, or what she is doing. But I can only hope that the violin (or music in general) continued to touched her life.

~Jessica

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on July 14, 2005 at 2:37 AM

Jessica, that is beautiful. I'm sure that you and your violin enriched her life a lot.

From Patty Rutins
Posted on July 14, 2005 at 5:37 PM

Way back when I played in youth orchestra, we went and played a concert at a school for the deaf.

It was really awesome -- during the quiet parts, there wasn't much reaction, though they watched curiously; then the timpani and low bass started up, and you could see the kids get all excited.

Afterward, we invited them up to explore the instruments -- we would play and let them feel the vibrations, or have them play something, etc.

It was a very surprising experience for all of us, I think.

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July 13, 2005 at 3:46 AM

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