Violin - a childhood dream

September 2, 2010 at 12:33 AM

It is my first time posting any sort of blog anywhere - never mind on this site! To be honest I haven't got a clue what to write really, but maybe it would be good to base my first post on the instrument I have learned to love over the past 7 years.

As what I would call a young musician, I am pretty amazed at the changes I have gone through since the tender age of 8. I had wanted to start music myself, through my own interest, since early childhood. Neither of my parents are musical and never have been, and my brother seemed to take no interest in music at all at the age of 6 back then. But there was always something magical I felt when I listened to music, and especially when I took part.

Since I can remember I have loved to take part in music lessons in school. It was fun for me to learn about instruments and make tunes on the good old xylophone back then! I would sit in front of the TV sometimes and watch the BBC Proms or other big events held in massive halls and see the orchestras play. I would be fascinated (and rather humoured) by the mad conductors dancing around the stage, waving their arms about in a rather disorderly fashion, trying to keep the orchestra in time. But all of that seemed wonderful, a fantasy in my young mind.

As I watched these orchestras on the TV I realised there were 2 instruments that really stood out to me. I was probably about 6 when I mentioned for the first time that the French Horn appealed to me. But it wasn't just the French Horn - it was the violin too. The violin looked fun yet sophisticated, it looked sleek and beautiful and had a wonderful sound. My mum told me some people think the violin sounds like a human voice singing. It seemed wonderful in the eyes of a 6 year old.

As I grew older I realised my passion for music. When I was 7 I started going to church and for the first time I could listen to music 'live'. The choral sounds and the many styles were attractive and soon I was getting myself involved with the church choir. The choir mistress first asked me to sing a note - I sang it back perfectly. Then I sang a tune back to her, once again, perfectly. I had found the loop I had been looking for and I was getting involved with proper music. And I must say, it was wonderful!

Now, how does all of this lead on to me playing the violin, you might be wondering? I was 9 years old and in year 4 of primary school when the school music teacher called me into her classroom one break time. She had brought together a group of children my age and was handing out letters. When I looked at it and read it, she had literally handed me an opportunity there and then to start learning an instrument! The only catch was money...

The choices were 4 things - the Piano, the Violin, the Flute or the Cello. Of course, my instincts drew me to the violin I had grown to love from the TV. I took the letter home to my parents and told them I wanted to play the violin. My parents are loving and caring and couldn't let the opportunity pass. I was later told that when I had first given them the letter they had been suspicious that the school was trying to make us give them money, but this soon was proven wrong!

When I gave the form back into the school the following week, my teacher came back at me with some bad news. 'I am afraid to say, Eloise, that all the places for violin lessons have been taken. You will have to learn the cello, flute or piano.'

Well, with those words ringing through my ears, my heart sank. But I was a determined child and in my usual manor I wanted my own way. I approached my head master who decided to let one more space be provided for me to learn the violin.

It was just before the Christmas of 2003 when we were given our instruments. I remember being so incredibly excited that day! When a hard, leather-coated shaped case was placed on the table in front of me, my heart skipped a beat. I was already in love before I opened it up to see the hidden jewel of an instrument inside. This was the first time I had ever seen a real violin. For the first time it was not in a picture or on the TV, it was not a sound on the radio or just a fantasy in my head. It was a real life physical thing.

I opened the case up and looked at the violin. A nine year-old girl, about to start her dream, was brought almost to tears that day. And by God, I don't regret one bit of it.

Music is the best thing that has ever happened to me in any way what so ever. It is easy for me to take it for granted, but in reality, I am lucky I have the gift to be able to pick up my instruments and just play. So I thank all the people who have given me the opportunity to learn music and I especially thank my parents, my first choir mistress and my first violin teacher! Thank you!

From Roland Bailey
Posted on September 4, 2010 at 2:45 PM

You're certainly a very musically talented young lady, and also a good writer. Hello from Nashville!

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Violin - a childhood dream

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