Music seems to be a trait that has moved down the generations in the family, at least on the maternal side.
My mother had always wanted to study music at the university, along with Mathematics. This was not a common thing for a young lady at the time, but she was a talented pianist. Unfortunately it was the start of the Great Depression, and it was not possible. But something seems to have been passed down through the family.
I am not a talented musician myself, but did spend some time learning the piano, after nagging for some years to be given lessons. And from the time our children were young, we have always had a piano in the home – must start playing again.
Both our children learnt musical instruments from a relatively young age. Both learnt the piano as a starting point.
Our son went on to learn guitar. He proved to be very talented, and played different styles – acoustic, rhythm, electric. For three years while we lived in Adelaide, he attended a High School with a special music program. He still loves playing his guitars, yes, multiple guitars. And listening to music is an important relaxation for him.
Our daughter learnt the flute, but perhaps her musical bent was more along the lines of her dance, thinking perhaps of her body as the instrument she worked with most.
Now both our children have children following in their footsteps with a love of music. Our eldest grandchild plays drums and bass guitar with a school band. His younger brother is also playing guitar very competently. Our daughter’s son is playing multiple instruments. At the end of primary school twelve months ago he applied to get into the music program in the High School he would attend and was successful.
And that is not where it ends. Each of my siblings has at least one child who has learnt an instrument at some time. But my sister won the jackpot I suspect. Her two daughters are very talented musicians. As a mature age student my eldest niece returned to university and as well as gaining a degree in music and French, went on to qualify as a music teacher. She taught for several years, until changing career direction. Her sister attended the Conservatorium of Music at Melbourne University. She is now a highly respected teacher of music in NSW. All her boys sing in choirs as well as playing instruments. The two eldest boys were accepted into the Conservatorium High School in Sydney (the third is too young), although not attending now. They are now living in country NSW in a town known for its music (David Helfgott lives nearby), with my niece teaching music in the local High School.
And as I write this, my husband and a friend are playing music in our home!!!
Joy Shirley
February 2019
My mother had always wanted to study music at the university, along with Mathematics. This was not a common thing for a young lady at the time, but she was a talented pianist. Unfortunately it was the start of the Great Depression, and it was not possible. But something seems to have been passed down through the family.
I am not a talented musician myself, but did spend some time learning the piano, after nagging for some years to be given lessons. And from the time our children were young, we have always had a piano in the home – must start playing again.
Both our children learnt musical instruments from a relatively young age. Both learnt the piano as a starting point.
Our son went on to learn guitar. He proved to be very talented, and played different styles – acoustic, rhythm, electric. For three years while we lived in Adelaide, he attended a High School with a special music program. He still loves playing his guitars, yes, multiple guitars. And listening to music is an important relaxation for him.
Our daughter learnt the flute, but perhaps her musical bent was more along the lines of her dance, thinking perhaps of her body as the instrument she worked with most.
Now both our children have children following in their footsteps with a love of music. Our eldest grandchild plays drums and bass guitar with a school band. His younger brother is also playing guitar very competently. Our daughter’s son is playing multiple instruments. At the end of primary school twelve months ago he applied to get into the music program in the High School he would attend and was successful.
And that is not where it ends. Each of my siblings has at least one child who has learnt an instrument at some time. But my sister won the jackpot I suspect. Her two daughters are very talented musicians. As a mature age student my eldest niece returned to university and as well as gaining a degree in music and French, went on to qualify as a music teacher. She taught for several years, until changing career direction. Her sister attended the Conservatorium of Music at Melbourne University. She is now a highly respected teacher of music in NSW. All her boys sing in choirs as well as playing instruments. The two eldest boys were accepted into the Conservatorium High School in Sydney (the third is too young), although not attending now. They are now living in country NSW in a town known for its music (David Helfgott lives nearby), with my niece teaching music in the local High School.
And as I write this, my husband and a friend are playing music in our home!!!
Joy Shirley
February 2019
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