Being a busker refuels her cello passion
Covid-19 was a real doozy in every aspect of a child’s life. She, along with over a billion children on the planet, stopped going to school. She stopped seeing her friends. She stopped attending extracurricular activities and practically all social aspect of her life was stopped. Even her cello lessons went on Zoom and orchestra was understandably cancelled. In the first few weeks of a global lockdown, it was a novelty. Then the new reality set in. The frustration of doing everything including arts and crafts via computer grew. The lack of social contact wore on everyone. And then I heard my daughter say, “Daddy, I’m not enjoying cello anymore. I want to quit.”
Unlike the last time, when I pushed her too hard to practice, she felt she wasn’t playing for herself anymore and wanted to quit. This time, the separation of teacher and groups made her feel isolated and she felt like she was truly playing by herself. After a year of Zoom lessons, she did make remarkable progress and was able to finish Book 2. She took my words to heart, “Finish out the season and then you can confidently put the instrument down because it no longer gives you the joy it once did.” She gave it her best and she stuck with it at the worst of times. Her virtual solo recital was performed with confidence and conviction given the circumstances. I was proud of her. She didn’t abandon the music. She finished gracefully.
My daughter looked at her mom, looked at the doctor, took the money and looked at the doctor again and asked, “What would you like to hear?”
No sooner than a week has passed, she was practicing for her last group concert when a guest who happened to be at her mom’s house heard her play. The guest enjoyed listening and when my daughter came down from her room, she was asked about it. The guest was a medical doctor and said that many of his peers and interns play musical instruments also. The two of them had a talk about how music stimulates the brain. Without getting too technical, the doctor convinced her not to stop playing, even if it’s just playing at the same level—for no other reason than to enjoy it. And he enjoyed her playing so much, he offered her a busker tip of $10 and asked her to go back up to her room and play her favorite piece as he was wrapping up a social visit at her mom’s house. My daughter looked at her mom, looked at the doctor, took the money and looked at the doctor again and asked, “What would you like to hear?”
I told my daughter’s cello teacher this story and she suggested that it might be a good idea to have the lessons outdoor—in a nearby park. My daughter was a little surprised but excited. It felt like a mini concert in the park for anyone to listen. And indeed it was. From then on, my daughter continued weekly summer lessons at that neighborhood park under a big old tree. Rainy days were rescheduled for dry ones. Every time, my daughter and her teacher went to the park with cellos and chairs, they had a great time. Everyone looked on. Most just listened and enjoyed. A few would walk up closer but none would interrupt their lesson. Everyone just appreciated the music of two cellos in the park!
As a new season rolls along, my daughter’s love for her cello was rekindled with this encouragement and the resumption of in-person classes and group play. I was also very happy that she decided not to stop something she was so good at. But her making the decision to stop and restart was purely her choice and reflects her true desire. I hope she never stops playing the cello. It’s not just an instrument she plays, but it’s also become a voice of hers which was silent by the pandemic.
