Last night my husband Don and I took the two grandmas to the Village Theatre production of Anne of Green Gables. It was a fantastic show and the grandmas loved it. My mother who has some memory problems was as alert as I’ve seen her in years- hanging onto every word and note and laughing at all the stage action. It’s hard to find something these days that can hold her attention but the musical did it.
Several years ago when I had thyroid cancer I had to be off the thyroid pills for weeks. Your thyroid regulates your temperature, your energy, and your brain. I could hardly walk or talk BUT I could teach flute lessons! Even when I was in the hospital and could barely sit up much less focus on anything I listened to the radio and could hear every nuance just like when I’m “normal.” I’ve read that many people with psychiatric problems still retain their ability to remember and connect with music. How lucky we musicians and music lovers are to have music throughout our life!
Archive for December, 2010
Music Lasts A Lifetime
Monday, December 20th, 2010Generations
Thursday, December 9th, 2010Last Saturday I attended a concert of the University of Washington freshman flute class. There were four students and three had been my students. How fun (and odd!) it was to see them on stage playing so beautifully- and I had nothing to do with it. But then maybe I did. Their teacher, Donna Shin was a former student of mine. So in reality, I was watching two generations of my students perform. Donna had a baby this summer. As I was holding baby Noah I wondered, maybe I will get to be his teacher too! I’ve taught two “grandchildren” before-children of former students. Even if you don’t have a direct lineage from student to student we music teachers still create a legacy for generations to come. We teach our students who fall in love with music and want to share it with their children who share it with their children who share it..