Pearl has been complaining about violin recently. “I’m no good at it, I want to quit”. We’re encouraging her to continue at least until the end of the year, and to practice more so that she can get better at it. She does practice, but it’s grudgingly, with more time spent talking about how horrible it is and how bad she is than actually playing.
On the way home from school today I told her that I’d already heard all her complaints about practice, so there was no need to repeat them. There may have been a bribe incentive for a grumble-free practice session, too. It worked pretty well.
She stumbled and winced her way through a couple of bars of “Lightly Row” a couple of times, then – without being prompted – launched into “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”, which she’s been working on for a few weeks. It was good! She played fluently and more-or-less in tune, with a good tone. Babess was smiling and singing along. Sometimes, if it’s not good, she cries, which does not encourage her big sister at all.
Pearl was clearly pleased with herself, and so was I. I pointed out that the second tune was much better than the first because she’d been practising it for weeks, and promised that more playing would improve “Lightly Row” as well. I really hope she comes to enjoy her music, and not just when she’s “good at it”.
